Alabama Blackeyed Butterbean (Phaseolus lunatus) in Virginia

[rdback]

Alabama Blackeyed Butterbean (Phaseolus lunatus) in Virginia – 2020

Here's another bean I'm trialing this year. I have a soft spot for lima beans. I grow one, and only one, every year. I've found limas to be very promiscuous and cross readily, so I only grow one variety per year. I chose Alabama Blackeyed this year simply because of its' name. I LOVE blackeyed peas, so why not lol.

Seed source was Baker Creek Seeds. www.rareseeds.com/store/vegetables/beans/lima-beans/alabama-blackeyed-butter-bean.Their description:

”A delicious Alabama heirloom butterbean. We received this seed from a customer whose family has passed the seeds down for many generations. This bean is quite vigorous and will need trellising. Does well in extreme heat and drought conditions. Technically a lima bean, this creamy white bean is traditionally grown in Alabama and referred to there as a butterbean.”

Seeds were planted on 6/03. Inoculant was not used, as beans have been grown in this soil in prior years. Germination was excellent – 11 out of 12 seeds, or 92%. (Note: I'm actually growing two trellises of Alabama Blackeyed Butterbean for seed saving purposes, but for this log I will only be documenting this one trellis as a representative sample.)

7/06 – Seeds were planted 6 inches apart. In hindsight, I'm not sure what I was thinking. I always plant limas 12 inches apart because of their profuse lateral branching. Oh well, we'll see how it goes. This is 30 days after planting.

[rdback]

7/10 - Plants are hesitant climbers, so training is required.

[rdback]

7/16 – As expected, heavy branching is occurring. Training of new branches is still required, but once started they climb readily.


Lead runners are already cresting the trellis arch at about 8 feet.

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7/28 – Trellis is completely engulfed. The growing tips are doing the bean dance at the top of the trellis. Starting to see flower stalks, but most flowers are dropping due to heat.

[macmex]

Rick, this is wonderful information on this variety! I, too, grow only one lunatus variety in any given year, and for the same reason. I only have a couple plants of Calico Willow Leaf Pole Lima this year, and they are languishing, as they don't care for our weather conditions this year.

[rdback]

8/03 - Decided to pop down to the garden before Hurricane Isaias showed up. Was surprised at how this bean has exploded with flower spikes and PODS. Yep, ABB is setting pods  like crazy, even though every day in July was above 90, except two. That's hot for these here parts. I should have no problem maturing seed for this bean. The one problem it's having is the Mexican Bean Beetle seems to really be attracted to it. I need to try and spray with either Neem or BT, but it's been raining for a week!

[rdback]

8/07 - Vines continue to be OUT OF CONTROL lol.

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8/16 - ABB continues with its' uncontrollable growth. I'll tuck a runner back into the mass of vines once in a while, but by-and-large, I have lost the battle of control. It has now decided to take over the recently vacated trellis to the left. Pod set is increasing with the cooler evenings. This is an impressive Lima bean!

[rdback]

8/27 - This lima continues to impress. Maturing dry pods now. Seedsaving will not be a problem with this bean.

It continues to wander rampantly. All I can do now is watch, pretty much, lol.

Pods are now drying down, ready for picking.

This bean still retains the self-dispersal gene. When the husks have dried down and split, they will eventually spring open and disperse seed to help ensure the next generation. You have to be kinda careful when picking, or you'll be looking for those dispersed seed EVERYWHERE! Ask me how I know. *smile*

[macmex]

I've seen this self dispersal characteristic before. Looks like a real winner though!

[rdback]

9/28 Speaking of self-dispersal, I was down picking some dried pods and found this pair of hulls. I have no idea where these seeds went or when, lol.

[macmex]

Looks like this one qualifies as a "crop that grows like a weed," or "feel good crop!" 
We'll see how it handles Oklahoma.

[macmex]

Well, I planted a tripod of this bean from the seed you sent me, Rick.  I sprouted the seed in a damp paper towel, starting on June 23 and put the sprouted seeds in the ground on the 25th. Every seed sprouted.

Last night, June 29, I took this picture of one of the legs of the tripod.



Looks like it's getting off to a good start!

[macmex]

It's good to have a number of us trial this variety. We'll get a really good idea of how it handles our conditions.

[macmex]

I suspect it's because they really aren't fond of our searing hot, mid summer heat. They would thrive in our long, milder fall.