Christmas Pole Lima Bean is a chestnut-flavored heirloom pole bean descended from Lima, Peru, where it earned its reputation as a beloved American winter staple. Gardeners in zones 9-11 can grow these giant-seeded, meaty beans on trellises, reaching harvest in 95 days of warm weather. For generations, homesteaders have treasured this variety as a delicious substitute for chestnuts, and its association with holiday feasting is why it carries the name Christmas Lima in different regions across North America.
Full Sun
Moderate
9-11
?in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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This giant-seeded pole bean delivers a distinctly chestnut-like flavor that has made it a winter favorite across American households for generations. The vines climb vigorously in warm conditions, producing substantial harvests of meaty beans ideal for special occasion cooking. Its heritage status and cultural weight as a holiday tradition mean you're growing a variety with real human history and culinary meaning, not just another lima bean.
These large, meaty beans excel in hearty winter dishes where their chestnut flavor can shine. They're traditionally prepared for holiday meals, creamed as a side dish, or added to soups and stews where their substantial texture and distinctive taste distinguish them from ordinary lima beans. The giant seeds make them visually impressive and satisfying to harvest and prepare by hand.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Wait until all frost danger has completely passed and soil temperatures have warmed to 70°F or above before transplanting or direct sowing. Space plants 6 inches apart along sturdy pole or trellis structures where vines can climb vigorously.
Direct sow seeds into warm, frost-free soil once temperatures reliably stay between 70-90°F. Plant along trellises, poles, or sturdy vertical supports where the vining growth habit can be fully utilized.
Harvest pods when beans have fully developed inside and the pods begin to dry slightly, typically around 95 days after planting. Pick beans as needed for fresh cooking, or allow pods to mature fully on the vine and dry completely for storage and use throughout winter. The large seeds make them easy to identify when fully mature inside the pod.
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“Originating in Lima, Peru, the Christmas Pole Lima Bean traveled north to become woven into American food culture and homesteading tradition. Generations of farmers in regions where chestnuts were scarce discovered this lima bean's extraordinary chestnut-like flavor and began reserving it specifically for holiday meals. The variety earned its name through this cultural practice: in different locales it became known as either Chestnut Lima or Christmas Lima, reflecting how communities used it to mark special occasions when fresh chestnuts might not be available. Its survival and continued cultivation testify to how gardeners and cooks preserve varieties that matter to them, passing seeds and stories forward together.”