Phaseolus lunatus ‘Ping Zebra’ (Pole Lima Bean) [15 Seeds]

Germination Information: I generally suggest sowing the seeds directly in your garden, about 1 inch deep and 2 to 4 inches apart, a week or two after your last frost date. Be sure to provide some sort of support for the twining stems; they can climb 6 to 9 feet if space allows.

Last year, I tried something different, based on a discussion with a customer, who mentioned that she was planning to start the seeds indoors. I’d never thought about transplanting beans but decided to give it a try. I sowed some seeds indoors on a heat mat on March 28 and they sprouted on April 1. I had to keep moving them to larger pots, up to a 1-gallon size, because it kept dipping below 50°F at night through much of May and I didn’t want to put them outside then. I finally planted the pot of vines in my seed garden in early June. The vines settled in right away and started climbing and flowering soon after. I was able to harvest the first dried pods in late July—about 2 months earlier than usual! It worked as well again this year. So, if you garden in the north, you may want to consider giving the indoor-starting approach a try.

Note that this information will not appear on the seed packet you receive.

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