Bean – White Dixie Butterpea

Description

White Dixie Butterpea Lima Bean

50 Seeds per pack

Days to Maturity: 55 – 75 Days

Sun Requirements: Full Sun

Botanical Name: Phaseolus lunatus

The White Dixie Butterpea is a cherished Southern heirloom, valued for its creamy, buttery flavor and reliable yields. A bush-type lima, it grows compact and sturdy to about 20–24 inches tall, making it an excellent choice for home gardens and market growers alike.

Plants produce medium green pods, each holding three to four small, oval white beans that are tender when fresh and smooth in texture when dried. Maturing in about 70–75 days—sometimes as quickly as 55–65 days in warm conditions—this is one of the faster maturing limas. Known for both heat and drought tolerance, the White Dixie Butterpea keeps bearing steadily until frost.

In the kitchen, its gourmet flavor is prized in Southern cooking, lending itself to creamy side dishes with herbs or bacon, hearty stews, succotash, casseroles, or even lighter plant-based fare.

The beans freeze, can, or dry well, offering both immediate table enjoyment and excellent keeping quality. With their delicate, rich taste and consistent productivity, White Dixie Butterpeas remain one of the finest small lima types for gardeners who appreciate dependable harvests and superb eating quality!

Planting Instructions for White Dixie Butterpea’s Bean Seeds

When to Plant:
White Dixie Butterpea is a warm-season heirloom that must be planted after the danger of frost has passed. Wait until soil temperatures reach at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit for strong germination. If the soil is still cool at frost-free date, delay planting until it has warmed, or start with a greenhouse or hoop house. As a bush-type variety, White Dixie Butterpea matures more quickly than pole limas, often producing in just 55 to 75 days depending on climate, and is well-suited to both short and long growing seasons.

Where to Plant:
Select a sunny site with at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. This bean prefers loamy, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0–6.8. Raised beds or ridged rows help in heavier soils. Rotate plantings each year and avoid sowing in the same bed two years in a row to prevent disease buildup.

How to Plant:
Direct-seed outdoors, as lima beans do not transplant well. Plant seeds one to one and a half inches deep in warm, moist soil. Space seeds four to six inches apart in rows eighteen to thirty inches apart. Once seedlings emerge, thin to eight to twelve inches for proper airflow and vigor. Do not presoak seeds before planting, as they may split. Plants grow compact, reaching about twenty to twenty-four inches tall, and do not require trellising.

Watering and Care:
Keep soil evenly moist, supplying about one inch of water per week, especially during flowering and pod set. Apply water at the soil level to avoid wetting foliage. Mulch around plants once soil has warmed to retain moisture and suppress weeds. White Dixie Butterpea thrives in warm weather between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit and is tolerant of both heat and drought, making it a dependable producer through summer. Fertilization is rarely needed, though a light side dressing of compost mid-season may help extend steady yields.

Companions and Cautions:
Good companions include corn, cucumbers, celery, potatoes, and summer savory. Avoid planting near onions, garlic, or chives, which hinder root development. Pests such as aphids, bean beetles, or spider mites may appear, but problems are usually minor. Rotate crops and maintain good airflow to prevent diseases such as rust, anthracnose, or bacterial blight.

Harvesting:

• For fresh eating: Pick pods when they are plump, green, and slightly leathery. Beans are at their tender best before the pods begin to yellow. Harvest frequently to encourage continued pod set.

• For dry storage: Leave pods on the plant until they are tan, brittle, and the seeds rattle inside. If frost or wet weather threatens, pull entire plants and hang indoors to finish drying.

Storage and Preservation:
Freshly harvested unshelled pods keep in the refrigerator for up to one to two weeks. Shell and blanch beans for freezing, or pressure-can for long storage. Fully dried beans should be stored in airtight containers in a cool, dark, dry place, where they remain good for up to two years.

Seed Saving:

White Dixie Butterpea is largely self-pollinating, though occasional cross-pollination may occur. To preserve varietal purity, separate from other lima types by at least twenty feet. Save seed only from healthy, disease-free plants. Choose pods that are fully mature and free of insect damage, especially from stink bugs. Shell beans promptly after harvest and dry them in a single layer on paper until hard. Store in airtight containers or seed saving envelopes in a cool, dry location—refrigeration is ideal. Properly dried and stored seeds remain viable for two to four years.

End of Season Clean-Up:
After harvest, remove and discard vines to reduce the chance of overwintering pests or diseases. Do not compost diseased material. In areas where beans are grown repeatedly, inspect roots for signs of root-knot nematodes; if galling is found, rotate plantings to a new area or use recommended nematode management practices.

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