Anyone want to start a GoingToSeed Lima Bean Landrace? It’s hard to find lots of diversity for Lima Beans (Phaseolus lunatus) but maybe if we all pool our resources together, we might just create a similar diversity mix like how we did for Runner & Common Beans (Both GTS mixes are fantastic examples).
Currently I’m researching Lima Beans & on the right is the diversity of Lima Beans (Top being wild forms & bottom being domestic forms).
Both of these groups come in Bush or Pole/Vine growth habbits + both can be used as Green Beans, Shelling Beans (Immature Seeds as food) &/or Dry Beans (Many cultivars dual purpose, if you pick pods when tender enough).
In terms of flavor, I’ve noticed Lima Beans have a buttery Popcorn x Bean Flavor, they taste different form Common Beans. Has anyone also noticed flavor differences among bean cultivars & Species.
Here’s the Phylogenic Tree of the Lima Bean Subgenus Lunatus, which is split into 3 sections (Hybirds between sections are possible) or 3 species complexs. Altogether it’s sister to Common/Runner Bean Subgenus Vulgaris.
Feel free to share any info/notes/experiences you’ve learned/researched regarding Lima Beans (Or other relevant Beans). I want to learn as much as I can about Lima Beans.
I’m growing two relatively short-season lunatus varieties, Thorogreen (aka cangreen bush, which despite its name is viney) and Howur. Both are delicious and prolific. They’ve hybridized a bit over the last couple of years. I should be able to contribute a small number of seeds this year if anyone is interested in them.
I too am looking into a lima bean landrace but have yet to establish one until next year. Do the seed contributions between USA and CAN ever combine? I havent the slightest idea how it works.
Would love to work on this as well and then pass along my efforts/take some of yours.
Thank you for clearing things up! If that’s the case, i could technically contribute lima seed but it wouldnt be saved from my personal garden this year but rather from a seed supplier westcoast seeds, early thorogreen variety, that I plan on growing next year. I also was looking into lima bean from etsy and a seed swapping Canadian site and so far have ordered bertha lowe, aunt amelia and black start lima beans… next year shall be the start of it all!
Whole bunch of unique Melons, Squash, Peppers, Beans, Fruit trees/shrubs, Wild edibles & so much more. Feel free to make a list too, I’m sure you have more than just Lima Beans.
That’s quite a collection! I’d love to try the Kumato tomatoes. I have grexes of tomato, eggplant, pepo squash (cocozelle and kousa types) and cucumbers. Also some Kentucky Wonder beans. Other than the tomatoes, I was planning to send my extras in to the Seed Share program but would be glad to send you some directly.
Thank you! I gotchu on Kumato Tomatoes. Anything else you wanted?
What kinds of eggplants & tomatoes do you have?
I’ve never heard of kousa type summer squashes, tell me more about them.
I know Cocozelle are good so loved to get those.
Do you have herbs, fruits, berries & other edible plants? Looking for not just domesticated veggies but also wild edibles too (including edible weeds).
Tomatoes: I have Yellow Brandywine, Aunt Ruby’s German Green, Trifele, Ruth’s Perfect, and a bunch of others (red and black) that are no longer distinguishable because I’ve been saving them forever and just labeling them as “small black,” “large red,” etc.
Eggplant: Just started saving seeds this year. I planted Caspar, Listada di Gandia, a Ping Tung grex, and five Mediterranean-type purple ones that I probably won’t get any seeds from. They’ve probably all hybridized a little.
Kousa squashes: here’s one of the varieties I planted: ‘Homs Kousa’ Summer Squash – Experimental Farm Network Seed Store
Lots of herbs, fruits, berries, and edible weeds, but the only thing I saved seeds from this year was the hardy kiwi, which you already have. Pear harvest is going on right now and I could save some seeds from Luscious or Kieffer pears if you’re interested in those.
I have several cultivars from GRIN, all pole types. One is planted out right now I’m hoping to cross with my perrenial thicket bean (phaseolus polystachios) once they’ve both flowered, which supposedly hybridizes readily. Perreniality is apparently inheritable according to Oikos tree crops. I’ll likely have some to contribute this year if there isn’t an early frost.
OOh! now that is very interesting, Hopefully you get some quality hybirds!
These would be epic in a GTS Mix. Hopefully you get enough seeds to share.
I’d also happily trade with you for em too.
Uh… it might actually be heritable, just like with Phaseolus vulgaris x Phaseolus coccineus hybirds (Or at least short-lived perennial). I’ve heard some lima bean cultivars are somewhat perennial, at least in frost-free zone But I’d need to confirm this.
