How to Grow Pole Lima Speckled Christmas
Phaseolus lunatus 'Speckled Christmas'
Pole Lima Speckled Christmas is an heirloom warm-season bean prized for its speckled pods and tender green beans. Gardeners cultivate this variety for its reliable yield and good natural resistance to common diseases, making it a sturdy addition to summer vegetable gardens.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Pole Lima Speckled Christmas: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Pole Lima Speckled Christmas is not usually started indoors.
Direct sow seeds outdoors only after all danger of frost has passed and soil temperatures have warmed sufficiently; do not transplant seedlings.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.8. As a warm-season crop, you must wait until after the last spring frost when the soil is thoroughly warm before sowing directly outdoors; do not start indoors or plant early. Sow seeds about one inch deep in rows spaced two feet apart. Expect germination to occur within seven to fourteen days under these warm conditions.
Space plants six to eight inches apart along sturdy trellises, as this pole variety requires vertical support to climb and produce well. Water deeply once or twice weekly to provide one to one-and-a-half inches of moisture, ensuring the soil stays consistently moist but not soggy. Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds while feeding lightly with balanced fertilizer if growth seems slow.
Watch for lima bean pod borers, Mexican bean beetles, and aphids; inspect leaves regularly and remove pests by hand or use insecticidal soap. Prevent downy mildew, bacterial blight, and mosaic virus by practicing crop rotation and ensuring good air circulation. Harvest pods ninety to ninety-five days after sowing when they are young, tender, and speckled for the best flavor.
When to Plant Pole Lima Speckled Christmas
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 Pole Lima Speckled Christmas
✓ Good companions
Repels thrips and aphids while potentially improving bean flavor
Beans fix nitrogen that carrots utilize, carrots don't compete for space
Provides natural support structure for climbing lima beans
Repel Mexican bean beetles and other harmful insects
Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Break up soil for bean roots and mature before beans need full space
Creates Three Sisters guild, squash leaves shade soil and retain moisture
Deters Mexican bean beetles and may enhance bean growth
✗ Keep away from
Produces allelopathic compounds that inhibit bean germination and growth
Inhibit bean growth and nitrogen fixation through root secretions
Compete heavily for nutrients and may release allelopathic compounds
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
