Alabama Black Eye Pole Lima Bean Seeds | Heirloom

Bring a Southern heirloom to your garden with Alabama Black Eye pole lima beans. Saved for generations in Alabama, this vigorous climbing variety produces a generous crop in hot summers. Pick the beans for fresh shelling as butterbeans, or let them mature for dry beans to keep for later meals.

At a glance

• Bean type: Pole lima bean, also called a butterbean
• Growth habit: Tall, vigorous vines; provide a sturdy trellis
• Uses: Fresh shell beans or dry beans
• Time to harvest: Approximately 90–100 days
• Growing conditions: Productive in hot summers and noted for drought tolerance

How to plant

Direct sow after the last spring frost once the soil has warmed. Plant seeds about 1 inch deep and space them 2–4 inches apart in well-fertilized soil. Set up a strong trellis early so the vines have support as they grow. For a longer picking season, sow another short section every 2–3 weeks while conditions allow.

From garden to kitchen

Shell the beans while fresh for a Southern-style butterbean dish, or allow pods to dry for beans you can store and cook later. The climbing vines make use of vertical garden space while bringing a piece of Alabama seed-saving heritage to your harvest.

Available sizes: 10 seeds, 1 oz, 4 oz, and 1 lb. Select the size that suits your planting plans.