Acer Rubrum wrote: ↑Fri Nov 29, 2024 2:15 pm Has anyone grown the colorful version of Willow Leafed lima beans? https://www.southernexposure.com/produc ... lima-bean/

My experience with lima beans is limited to growing some Sadie's Baby Lima's last year, which was a resounding success, and my older daughter growing a teepee of Christmas Lima's for a project with her homeschool group a number of years ago. Last year's lima project has inspired her to requisition a space on trellis for Christmas Lima's this coming summer. Hopefully the seeds in the freezer sprout for her.

But now I've run across these Willow Leafed ones. They look really interesting and I could use them between a couple of common bean varieties to reduce the chances of crossing. I'm already planning to use the Sadie's that way, but we're growing three rows so I could pop a few of these in.

I've also thought about Hopi Red lima beans, which are supposed to taste especially good. You have to go down a couple of paragraphs to get to the red variety.
://www.fondazioneslowfood.com/en/ark-of-ta ... ima-beans/

Tormato wrote: ↑Fri Nov 29, 2024 10:03 pm
I've grown some variety of Willow Leaf in the past, I just don't remember which one. I think that it was white seeded.

I would not worry about common beans crossing, as my rate is about 1 in 200 being a cross. Lima beans have a much higher rate. So high, that I only grow 1 variety a year, if I want to save pure seeds. I'll grow 2 varieties if I'm not concerned about purity. And if I get a cross, I'll know what it is.

I space lima plants much wider than common beans, 12 inches for bush, 16 inches for pole.

Acer Rubrum wrote: ↑Sat Nov 30, 2024 8:30 am

Tormato wrote: ↑Fri Nov 29, 2024 10:03 pm
I've grown some variety of Willow Leaf in the past, I just don't remember which one. I think that it was white seeded.

I would not worry about common beans crossing, as my rate is about 1 in 200 being a cross. Lima beans have a much higher rate. So high, that I only grow 1 variety a year, if I want to save pure seeds. I'll grow 2 varieties if I'm not concerned about purity. And if I get a cross, I'll know what it is.

I space lima plants much wider than common beans, 12 inches for bush, 16 inches for pole.

I can see why you'd give the lima plants more room. I planted the Sadie's with the same spacing as regular beans and they grew all over each other and their neighbors. They nearly overwhelmed the Fliederfarben beans, which ended up being not very productive. I'll probably have to regrow those to get an idea of how productive they are without lima stress.

I had planned to put my daughter's Christmas Lima plants on a trellis that's about 100 yards from the garden, with a raspberry patch between them. Do you think that would be far enough to prevent cross pollination?

Do you remember if the Willow Leaf beans you grew in the past were as vigorous as their regular leafed counterparts? I have wondered if there's any difference since they have narrower leaves.

Tormato wrote: ↑Sat Nov 30, 2024 8:52 am
Limas, like common beans, mostly self-pollinate. So, while the rate might be much higher than common beans, it is still relatively low (maybe about 4%, like tomatoes?). I've seen recommendations of from 150 feet to 1,300 feet, and up to a mile for a 99.99% chance of no crossing. Any honey bees in the area?

The Willow Leaf variety that I grew was no different from the others.

Acer Rubrum wrote: ↑Sat Nov 30, 2024 9:13 am

Tormato wrote: ↑Sat Nov 30, 2024 8:52 am
Limas, like common beans, mostly self-pollinate. So, while the rate might be much higher than common beans, it is still relatively low (maybe about 4%, like tomatoes?). I've seen recommendations of from 150 feet to 1,300 feet, and up to a mile for a 99.99% chance of no crossing. Any honey bees in the area?

The Willow Leaf variety that I grew was no different from the others.

There are honey bees around. We had to have a wild hive removed about a dozen years ago when it decided to take up residence in a tree right outside the house and we have them in the greenhouse all the time.

Tormato wrote: ↑Sat Nov 30, 2024 1:29 pm
I've been told by a beekeeper, that when honey bees go out gathering for the day, they stick to one type of flower. So, if they go for limas, they will fly over the raspberries to get to the next limas.