Phaseolus lunatus (103 days) Open-pollinated. U.P. Hedrick in 1931 in The Vegetables of New York called it “the hardiest of all bush limas, very productive.” In his 100 Vegetables and Where They Came From, William Woys Weaver highly praised Jackson Wonder for baby pods that are so tender they can be cooked like snow peas, and mature beans so handsome they make a stunning bead necklace. Introduced in 1888, Atlanta farmer Thomas Jackson’s drought-tolerant variety created a sensation for its productivity, even though it stands only 18" tall. Jackson Wonder features about 3 seeds per curved 3"pod, grey in the shell stage and drying to buff with lovely purple and black mottling, as succulent as they are decorative. Its sweet-smelling white flowers attract butterflies. Especially attractive to pollinators.③⑤
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Originally from Peru where they were cultivated 4,000 years ago by the Lima culture.
Culture: Lima beans require more heat than bush beans and are indifferent performers in cold wet summers. Minimum soil temperature 60°, optimal range 70–85°. Tender, will not survive frost. Plant 3–4 seeds/ft in rows 24–30" apart. Plant as other bush or pole beans. Bush limas can be prone to twining (developing viny tendrils). Harvest at shelling stage when beans bulge in fading pliable pods, before pods start to dry out. Pick frequently for maximum yields, but avoid disturbing foliage in wet weather to prevent spread of fungal diseases.
Beans
All beans are open-pollinated.
Days to maturity are from seeding date.
Culture: Tender, will not survive frost. Inoculate with a legume inoculant, then plant seeds 3–4" apart in rows 24–30" apart after all danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed. Minimum germination soil temperature 60°; optimal range 70–80°. White-seeded beans are generally more sensitive to cold soil temps than dark-seeded varieties. Legumes have moderate fertility needs and can fix their own nitrogen.
Saving Seed: Saving bean seed is easy! Leave pods on the plants to dry. Hand shell, or stomp pods on a tarp. To ensure true-to-type seed, separate varieties by 30 feet.
Diseases:
ANTH: Anthracnose
BBS: Bacterial Brown Spot
CBMV: Common Bean Mosaic Virus
CTV: Curly Top Virus
DM: Downy Mildew
HB: Halo Blight
NY 15: NY 15 Mosaic Virus
PM: Powdery Mildew
PMV: Pod Mottle Virus
R: Rust
SC: Sclerotina
White mold, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, affects more than 300 plant species. In beans, low humidity, good air circulation and wider spacing, both between plants and between rows, reduce the likelihood of this soil-borne infection.
Germination Testing
For the latest results of our germination tests, please see the germination page.
Our Seeds are Non-GMO
All of our seeds are non-GMO, and free of neonicotinoids and fungicides. Fedco is one of the original companies to sign the Safe Seed Pledge.
