Description

Bean ‘Speckled Calico’, also known as ‘Christmas’, is a South American heirloom variety of lima bean. It is a vigorous climbing bean which needs support. The seeds are large, up to 3cm long and 2cm in width, with dark red splashes on a white background. This variety is usually grown for dried beans but can be picked young and eaten in their pods. If picking young, cut pods, don’t pull – the plant may be damaged. The rich flavour of the soft beans is retained even after freezing. Cool summers will reduce yields. Lima beans are sometimes called ‘butter beans’ because of their buttery texture. Lima beans are perennial in their native habitat; in western Sydney they are inclined to die down in winter and return in spring if not pulled out. The plants produce higher yields in the second year, tapering off in third and subsequent years.
Lima beans are a species of Phaseolus lunatus, which includes Lima beans and Madagascar beans. If growing for seed collection, check the Latin name of the beans you are about to plant: all varieties of Phaseolus lunatus have the potential to cross-pollinate with each other. They will, however, not cross-pollinate with green (string) beans or kidney beans (both Phaseolus vulgaris), snake beans, runner beans, soybeans or lablab beans, so feel free to grow these other types of beans near your Lima bean of choice.