What are Butter Beans? Mmm Mmm good! That's what they are.

Well, they're Lima beans and they're easy to grow. The South American native Phaseolus lunatus, a.k.a. butter beans, are grown in the spring by sowing them into healthy soils with ample organic matter once the soil temperatures have reached 55 degrees Fahrenheit.  Most beans are a little sensitive to soil temperatures and Lima beans will  not germinate in cold soils.

Plant the seeds about an inch deep and 10 inches apart.  Supply a couple inches of water per week but don't allow the soil to become waterlogged.  I'm a big advocate of amending garden soil with compost and one reason for this is water holding capacity.  Compost is nothing less than miraculous.  You can build copious amounts of beneficial organic matter of your own simply by layering leaves, lawn clippings and kitchen waste in a large pile in a corner of the yard.  By occasionally watering and turning this heap of decomposing material for a few short months, you'll generate a dark, rich, soil-amending fertilizer that's easy to work into your soil.

Butter beans mature somewhere between 60 and 90 days after seedlings sprout.  If you've never had them green then you're missing out on a real treat.  Harvest most of the pods while they're still soft but plump with the little buggers looking as if they want to jump onto your plate.  Allow a few to remain and mature on the plant until they become tan and hard.  These can be stored and used to start another crop later.

The Enchanted Cook (http://theenchantedcook.blogspot.com) posted the following recipe for two that she got while shopping at a farmer's market in her community:

Ingredients:
1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 Tablespoon salted butter
1 1/2 cups fresh Lima beans
2 large cloves garlic, minced
kosher salt to taste
fresh cracked pepper to taste

Heat skillet to medium heat, add oil and butter.  Add Lima beans and cook, stirring occasionally for about 15-20 minutes.  Add garlic, salt and pepper and saute a minute or two longer.

Is your mouth watering?  I'm off to dinner!

Jeff Floyd

Texas A & M Agrilife Extension Agent – Horticulture