How to Grow Lima King of the Garden Pole
Phaseolus lunatus 'King of the Garden'
Lima King of the Garden is a popular heirloom pole bean prized for its sweet, buttery pods that thrive in warm weather. Gardeners cultivate this variety for its reliable yield and moderate resistance to downy mildew, making it an excellent choice for summer harvests when soil temperatures are right.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Lima King of the Garden Pole: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Lima King of the Garden Pole is not usually started indoors.
Do not start indoors or transplant; sow seeds directly into the ground only after all danger of frost has passed and soil is warm.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare your garden bed with rich, well-draining soil adjusted to a pH between 6.0 and 6.8. As a warm-season crop, you must wait until after the last spring frost when the ground is thoroughly warm before planting directly outdoors. Sow seeds 1 inch deep; they typically germinate within 7 to 12 days once conditions are favorable.
Space plants 8 to 12 inches apart along sturdy trellises or poles, as this variety requires vertical support to climb. Provide consistent moisture of 1 to 1.5 inches weekly, ensuring the soil stays damp during pod formation. Apply mulch around the base to retain water and suppress weeds, but avoid wetting the foliage.
Watch for limna bean pod borers, Mexican bean beetles, and aphids; encourage beneficial insects or apply organic sprays if infestations occur. Prevent downy mildew and bacterial blight by ensuring good air circulation and avoiding overhead watering. Harvest pods 85 to 95 days after planting when they are young and tender for the best flavor.
When to Plant Lima King of the Garden Pole
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | July – August | November – August |
| Zone 2 | — | June – August | October – September |
| Zone 3 | — | June – July | October |
| Zone 4 | — | June – July | September – October |
| Zone 5 | — | May – June | September – October |
| Zone 6 | — | May – June | September – October |
| Zone 7 | — | April – June | August – October |
| Zone 8 | — | April – May | August – September |
| Zone 9 | — | March – April | July – August |
| Zone 10 | — | February – April | June – August |
| Zone 11 | — | January – March | May – July |
| Zone 12 | — | January – March | May – July |
| Zone 13 | — | January – March | May – July |
Companion Plants for Lima King of the Garden Pole
✓ Good companions
Beans fix nitrogen in soil that carrots utilize, carrots don't compete for space
Repels flea beetles and ants that can damage bean plants
Provides natural pole support for climbing beans, classic three sisters companion
Benefits from bean's nitrogen fixation and shade, efficient use of garden space
Repel bean beetles and nematodes, reduce pest damage
Attract beneficial insects and act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Break up soil for bean roots, mature quickly before beans need full space
Repels bean beetles and may improve bean flavor and growth
✗ Keep away from
Sulfur compounds can stunt bean growth and interfere with nitrogen fixation
Can inhibit bean growth and nitrogen fixation through root compounds
Allelopathic compounds inhibit bean germination and growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
