CeCeilia Davis Family Lima Bean

Dark purple and fuchsia pole lima beans grow several to a pod on 5-6 foot tall vines. The Davis family of Charleston, South Carolina called this bean the Red "Bully" Lima, named for an enslaved Ghanaian ancestor of the 1830s named Bwuhe (later called Bull-He, then Bully, over the years).

We received these seeds from seed keeper extraordinaire Kris Hubbard, of Artemus, Kentucky, who has traveled the Appalachian hollows as a healer, ethnobotanist, and educator for decades, collecting seeds and stories along the way.

Days to maturity: 80

Seeds per pack: 35

Germination rate: 93% on 12/21/2023

Planting / harvesting notes

Plant in warm soil at least a couple weeks after the last danger of frost has passed. Sow directly in the ground at a depth of one inch, spaced every few inches in rows 12 inches apart (or on either side of a trellis). Thin to one plant every four to six inches. Provide a sturdy trellis as the vines can grow eight to ten feet tall.

Seed keeping notes

Lima beans are self-pollinating, though it is best to isolate different varieties of P. lunatus by at least 150 feet to avoid unwanted cross-pollination from flying insects. For seed saving, harvest the beans when their shells have become dried and crispy on the plants. Lay out the pods in a dry, sunny place to dry down further. Shell the beans and lay out the seeds in a well ventilated place away from direct sunlight for at least another few days to a week before storing for next year.

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