OldGuy43
Garden Ornament
Having trouble finding seed lima bean seed. Is there any reason that I shouldn't just buy a pound of lima beans from the grocery and plant some of them and eat the rest?
Lima Bean Seed?
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Ridgerunner
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That should work. With dried beans there is no reason they should have treated them so they won't sprout. You can always take a few and put them between damp paper towels to see if they germinate. I'm sure you will find it is not a problem at all.
Two potential problems. How well does that variety grow in your climate? That's probably not really a problem. Some might do better in your climate than others but those will probably produce. I would not let that stop me from trying it.
The other question. Are they bush or pole type? Do you need to trellis them or not? If they are in the store, I'd plan on them being a bush type. That way they can be harvested by machine. Bush type tend to mature about the same time while pole beans tend to produce a lot longer. Another reason I'd expect them to be bush type.
Two potential problems. How well does that variety grow in your climate? That's probably not really a problem. Some might do better in your climate than others but those will probably produce. I would not let that stop me from trying it.
The other question. Are they bush or pole type? Do you need to trellis them or not? If they are in the store, I'd plan on them being a bush type. That way they can be harvested by machine. Bush type tend to mature about the same time while pole beans tend to produce a lot longer. Another reason I'd expect them to be bush type.
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OldGuy43
Garden Ornament
Thank you RidgeRunner for the quick response. OldGal and I were reasonably sure that store bought beans would work, bu thought I'd ask. You did give me more food for thought as well. I hadn't considered either of those things. Guess we'll try it.
baymule
Garden Master
OG, after Smoak posted about Violet's Multicolored Butterbeans, I just HAD to have some and I ordered several packets. (one for me and several to share ) I am going to plant them on my corn as they are climbing beans. I am so excited! These are beautiful, heirloom and I can save the seed!
http://www.southernexposure.com/violets-multicolored-butterbeans-bean-lima-pole-28-g-p-840.html
http://www.southernexposure.com/violets-multicolored-butterbeans-bean-lima-pole-28-g-p-840.html
897tgigvib
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I did exactly that last year oldguy. I carefully sorted through a bag of 15 bean mix that was from Mexico I got at the organic coop. I was able to recognize 2 kinds of white lima. A baby lima and a large lima.
The baby limas grew short runners and were less productive than the large limas. The large white limas were a strong bush plant. I was very impressed with them.
The other thing is that in a bag like that they are not handled like fragile seeds to grow. Some were physically chipped and some physically broken. Among those I selected to plant I got 50% or so germination. Not bad, especially since I did not know if I'd be setting pole sticks for them to climb on. Of that 50% germination some dropped one or both cotyledons soon after sprouting and grew slower at first. They really had been man handled.
Once they got growing they all did well. In the spots between where there were no plants I planted some Indian Woman Yellow vulgaris dry beans not to waste any space, and those did well too.
Since they came with no variety name I just called them LARGE WHITE COMMERCIAL BUSH LIMA. They produced early to mid season compared to the regular vulgaris dry beans. They made 3 to 5 inch pods with 2 to 4 seeds in each pod. Being large, but by no means the largest lima size, they fill a can relatively fast. You really will want a minimum of 50 good plants of these for a good amount for several soup pots and seeds for the next year.
The short runner baby limas were fun but not impressive. They'd do well with sticks that go 3 foot above the soil. Perhaps they want more light or heat than what my garden gets.
Hopi Beige Limas are 4 foot runners, and those are WONDERFUL! 30 plants filled a coffee can. Oh, more than that. I gave a few hands full away. VERY earthy and meaty flavored!
Christmas lima is relatively moderate productive, and makes a full sized vine, and are very beautiful. I'm selecting for the past few years for those that have the least white on them. I am going to begin selecting for better productivity now that my more colorful selection seems to be true breeding.
The baby limas grew short runners and were less productive than the large limas. The large white limas were a strong bush plant. I was very impressed with them.
The other thing is that in a bag like that they are not handled like fragile seeds to grow. Some were physically chipped and some physically broken. Among those I selected to plant I got 50% or so germination. Not bad, especially since I did not know if I'd be setting pole sticks for them to climb on. Of that 50% germination some dropped one or both cotyledons soon after sprouting and grew slower at first. They really had been man handled.
Once they got growing they all did well. In the spots between where there were no plants I planted some Indian Woman Yellow vulgaris dry beans not to waste any space, and those did well too.
Since they came with no variety name I just called them LARGE WHITE COMMERCIAL BUSH LIMA. They produced early to mid season compared to the regular vulgaris dry beans. They made 3 to 5 inch pods with 2 to 4 seeds in each pod. Being large, but by no means the largest lima size, they fill a can relatively fast. You really will want a minimum of 50 good plants of these for a good amount for several soup pots and seeds for the next year.
The short runner baby limas were fun but not impressive. They'd do well with sticks that go 3 foot above the soil. Perhaps they want more light or heat than what my garden gets.
Hopi Beige Limas are 4 foot runners, and those are WONDERFUL! 30 plants filled a coffee can. Oh, more than that. I gave a few hands full away. VERY earthy and meaty flavored!
Christmas lima is relatively moderate productive, and makes a full sized vine, and are very beautiful. I'm selecting for the past few years for those that have the least white on them. I am going to begin selecting for better productivity now that my more colorful selection seems to be true breeding.
