Saving money on groceries and tapping a source of stress relief are two reasons home gardeners love to have a veggie patch. But when you grow limas, also known as butter beans, there’s another advantage.
With many Phaseolus lunatus cultivars, growing your own is by far the best way to get a taste of the varieties you just can’t find fresh, or even frozen or dried.
When was the last time you saw shelled buff and maroon ‘Florida Speckled’ limas in your grocer’s produce aisle, for example?
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Steamed or boiled, butter beans from a nearby garden are delectable.
Even when you’re lucky enough to live near a farmers market or subscribe to a CSA box that includes fresh limas in season, they cost someone else dearly to grow and shell, and tend to sell out quickly.
When you plant your own, you have a reliable supply to cook fresh as a side dish, or use as an ingredient in bean salads, hummus, or summery soups.
They’re also super easy to dry to stock the pantry for the winter, or to save for planting next year’s crop of open-pollinated heirlooms.
Because the seeds are relatively inexpensive and far easier to find than fresh shellies, you’ll be able to grow lesser-known heirloom varieties to your heart’s content.
I currently have four in my own garden, one bush and three vining types.
You should probably start with just one or two, but it’s great to know there are dozens of options for home gardeners who want to grow butter beans from seed, each with its own growing quirks and unique flavor profile.
I guess you can tell I’m a big fan of these legumes, and not just
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