Alabama Blackeyed Pole Butterbean

Name: Alabama Blackeyed Pole Butterbean
Brand: Alliance of Native Seedkeepers
SKU: LB7
Price: 1.5 USD
Availability: InStock

Scientific name Phaseolus lunatus L.

About this variety

Alabama Blackeyed butterbean seeds are grown for a clear set of traits: long climbing lima vines producing distinctive black-eyed butterbeans. The flavor is creamy, buttery, and substantial with Southern shell-bean character. Keep those expectations beside the packet when selecting plants for food or seed.Treat Alabama Blackeyed butterbean seeds as a working crop rather than a label on a...

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Alliance of Native Seedkeepers | SKU: LB7

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Pickup available at Bertie County Seeds

Usually ready in 2-4 days

At a glance

The facts most gardeners need first

View the full variety record

20 minimum seeds per packet

Germination7–10 Days days · 70–85 °F
Maturity90-99 Days · From direct sowing for legumes; commonly from transplant for peppers; weather and harvest stage affect the result.
SunFull sun
Support & spacingTrellis · space 8 in · rows 36 in
Growth habitVining/Climbing · Annual · 97–120 in tall
Best useFresh shelling, dry beans, butterbean dishes, soups, and hot-climate gardens

Secure checkout Details

Triple-tested seed qualityRegular quality and germination checks support every packet.

We regularly test seed quality and germination as lots move through storage and packing. We stand behind the seed we send and want customers to contact us when a packet does not perform as reasonably expected.

1-year seed warrantyCoverage begins on the date of purchase.

When properly stored, planted, and cared for, we guarantee reasonable germination and true-to-type growth for one year from the date of purchase. Conditions outside our control—including extreme weather, pests, unsuitable storage, and gardener error—are excluded. Contact us when something is not right so we can review the situation and work toward a replacement, refund, or another fair resolution.

Non-GMO / BE seed policyWe do not buy or sell genetically engineered or bioengineered seed.

Every seed variety we sell is non-GMO.

USDA’s National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard defines bioengineered foods as containing detectable genetic material modified through in vitro recombinant DNA methods in ways not achievable through conventional breeding or found in nature.

Hybrid means parent lines were conventionally crossed; hybrid does not mean GMO.
Heirloom and open-pollinated describe how a variety is maintained and reproduced.
Organic certification is separate and is shown only when verified for the individual product.

Read how we define heirloom, hybrid, and GMO/BE seed · USDA BE Standard

Packed in Colerain, North CarolinaPrepared in our seed room for gardens across the country.

Seeds are packed and shipped from Colerain, North Carolina. Our packets use forestry-certified paper, and we use recyclable paper mailers where appropriate. AONSK is also a 1% for the Planet partner while continuing to reduce waste in packing and fulfillment.

Seed-starting profileDifficulty, preparation, reliability, and timing Open

Seed success profile

Gardener experience Some experience is helpful

Germination difficulty Straightforward with correct soil temperature

Preparation before sowing: Direct sow after frost when soil is warm and drained; do not place imbibed seed into cold saturated soil
Germination speed: 7–10 Days
Growing complexity: Warmth-demanding bean requiring a settled season, even moisture, and support for pole varieties
Patience and timing: Harvest timing depends on snap, shell, fresh seed, or dry seed use

Is this seed a good match for your experience?

Expected germination: 7–10 Days
Germination temperature: 70–85 °F
Stratification: None required
Scarification: None required
Pre-soaking: Usually not required
Light during germination: Full light after emergence
Germination pattern: Reliable in the correct soil temperature; large seed can rot in cold wet ground
Transplant sensitivity: Direct sow preferred; transplant only from young undisturbed plugs if necessary
Starting method: Cataloged as suitable for direct sowing; follow the product-specific timing and depth.
Best chance of success: For Alabama Blackeyed Pole Butterbean, wait for the correct soil temperature, use the listed spacing, and mark seed-saving plants before harvest.

Planning window

Plan around 7–10 Daysat70–85 °F. Keep moisture, light, and preparation aligned with the sowing instructions below.

Slow germination is not automatically failed germination.

Maintain the listed temperature, moisture, light, and treatment conditions for the full expected window. Some seed lots emerge gradually rather than all at once.

1 Beginner-friendly 2 One extra step 3 Some experience helpful 4 Patient growers 5 Advanced propagation

Seed age, storage, sowing depth, moisture, temperature, light, local conditions, and aftercare can affect results. Last reviewed July 2026.

Browse AONSK seed-starting and garden guides

Garden tools

Need a plan for your space?

Open the garden-fit planner or soil calculator only when you need them.

Open garden tools Uses this product’s recorded growing information. Local weather and garden conditions may vary.

About this variety

What to expect from Alabama Blackeyed Pole Butterbean

Alabama Blackeyed Pole Butterbean produce long climbing lima vines producing distinctive black-eyed butterbeans.

Read the complete product descriptionTraits, flavor, garden use, variety notes, and the full catalog record

Alabama Blackeyed butterbean seeds are grown for a clear set of traits: long climbing lima vines producing distinctive black-eyed butterbeans. The flavor is creamy, buttery, and substantial with Southern shell-bean character. Keep those expectations beside the packet when selecting plants for food or seed.

Treat Alabama Blackeyed butterbean seeds as a working crop rather than a label on a packet. Plants commonly reach 97–120 in with about 8 in between plants. Plan for trellis support. Give lima beans full sun, warm days, warm nights, and soil that drains well. Flowers may drop in extreme heat or drought, but cool summers can be equally limiting. Maintain even moisture during flowering and pod fill without waterlogging the roots. Harvest fresh shell limas when pods are plump and seeds have changed from watery green toward creamy maturity. The recorded germination window is 7-14 Days, with a recommended seed-zone temperature of 70–90 °F. Record sowing date, temperature, emergence, first flower, first harvest, and the plants reserved for seed.

Plan the picking stage around fresh shelling, dry beans, butterbean dishes, soups, and hot-climate gardens. Harvest stage changes flavor and texture, so pick for the intended use rather than one universal color or calendar date. Compare young, mature, and fully dry or ripe stages when the crop allows it, then keep the notes with the seed lot.

Alabama Blackeyed is circulated as a Southern pole butterbean. Detailed family provenance can vary among seed stocks, so preserve the distinctive seed pattern, pole habit, and culinary quality together. Provenance is part of quality, but repetition is not proof. Choose Alabama Blackeyed butterbean seeds when the habit, season, flavor, and harvest use fit the garden you actually have.

Minimum Seed Count: 20 seeds

Additional variety overview

Alabama Blackeyed butterbean seeds produce long climbing lima vines producing distinctive black-eyed butterbeans. The crop is grown for fresh shelling, dry beans, butterbean dishes, soups, and hot-climate gardens. Flavor is creamy, buttery, and substantial with Southern shell-bean character. Plan for the recorded growth habit, maturity, support, and species-specific seed-saving requirements.

View all growing and care factsBotanical identity, timing, climate, soil, spacing, mature size, and crop-specific details

Plant identity

Minimum seed count 20 seeds

Seed product profile Legume

Scientific name Phaseolus lunatus L.

Also known as Bean, Bean Seeds - Pole - Lima - Alabama Blackeyed Butterbean

Color White

Life cycle Annual

Botanical family Fabaceae

Reproductive type Open-Pollinated (OP)

Heritage qualifiers Heirloom

Native to the United States Domesticated Plant

Domestication note Mesoamerica (Mexico–Central America)

Seed success and gardener experience

Gardener experience Some experience is helpfulLevel 3 of 5

Germination difficulty Straightforward with correct soil temperatureLevel 2 of 5

Preparation before sowing Direct sow after frost when soil is warm and drained; do not place imbibed seed into cold saturated soil

Stratification None required

Scarification None required

Pre-soaking Usually not required

Light during germination Full light after emergence

Germination pattern Reliable in the correct soil temperature; large seed can rot in cold wet ground

Growing complexity Warmth-demanding bean requiring a settled season, even moisture, and support for pole varieties

Transplant sensitivity Direct sow preferred; transplant only from young undisturbed plugs if necessary

First harvest or bloom Harvest timing depends on snap, shell, fresh seed, or dry seed use

Best chance of success For Alabama Blackeyed Pole Butterbean, wait for the correct soil temperature, use the listed spacing, and mark seed-saving plants before harvest.

Timing and climate

Days to maturity 90-99 Days

Germination 7–10 Days

Germination temperature 70–85 °F

Planting season Late Spring

Bloom season Summer

Frost tolerance Tender

Sunlight Full sun

Water needs Moderate

Site, soil, and space

Soil type Loamy

Preferred soil pH 6.0–6.5

Seed depth 1.5 in

Plant spacing 8 in

Row spacing 36 in

Mature height 97–120 in

Growth habit Vining/Climbing

Support needed Trellis

Suitable growing locations In-ground bed, Raised bed, Greenhouse, High Tunnel, Vertical, Community garden

Crop-specific details

Flavor profile creamy, buttery, and substantial with Southern shell-bean character

Garden toolsOpen the garden-fit planner, planting-window questions, or soil calculator only when useful

Uses this product’s recorded growing information. Local weather, soil, and garden conditions may vary.

Garden-fit planning for this variety

Will Alabama Blackeyed Pole Butterbean fit your garden?

Check support, direct-sowing conditions, harvest use, succession timing, and available space.

US ZIP code optional Used for a broad seasonal estimate. It is not live weather. When are you planting? Growing space Direct sunlight Soil or growing mix Root-zone drainage Watering rhythm Seed-starting experience

Questions for this bean or pea seedSupport available? Harvest goal Sowing plan

Seed-starting fit and patience Special preparation How long are you willing to wait for germination? Starting preference

Recorded product profileSome experience is helpfulStraightforward with correct soil temperatureRead why

Soil test, pH, drainage, and amendment calculator Have a laboratory soil report? Enter pH, nutrients, texture, bed size, and site observations here. Open soil tools

Recorded soil typeLoamy

Recorded pH range6.0–6.5

Water needsModerate

LightFull sun

Lab pH Organic matter (%) Soil texture Lab phosphorus rating Lab potassium rating

This tool interprets values you enter; it does not replace laboratory or Cooperative Extension amendment rates. Soil test methods and nutrient recommendations vary by region.

Full growing record

Open only the section you need

How to start Alabama Blackeyed Pole Butterbean from seedPreparation, timing, depth, germination, transplanting, spacing, and early care

Recorded germination plan

Expected germination: 7–10 Days
Germination temperature: 70–85 °F

Complete sowing and planting guidance

How to sow and plant Alabama Blackeyed Pole Butterbean

Direct sow only after soil and weather are thoroughly warm. Lima beans resent cold, wet ground more than common beans. Plant about 1 inch deep, provide support immediately for pole types, and use generous spacing where humidity is high.

Variety facts: the packet minimum is 20 seeds; expected emergence is 7-14 Days; recommended seed-zone temperature is 70–90 °F. Plant spacing is 8 in, with row space kept open for airflow and harvest.

Label the variety and sowing date before watering. Keep the seed zone evenly moist, not saturated. If emergence is poor, measure the actual medium temperature and run a paper germination test before assuming the seed lot failed.

These legumes are normally direct sown. Wait for the crop-appropriate soil temperature, avoid saturated ground, and do not disturb seed after it begins taking up water.

How to grow this specific varietyLight, water, fertility, support, spacing, airflow, crop behavior, and season-long care

Variety-specific growing notes

How to grow Alabama Blackeyed Pole Butterbean

Give lima beans full sun, warm days, warm nights, and soil that drains well. Flowers may drop in extreme heat or drought, but cool summers can be equally limiting. Maintain even moisture during flowering and pod fill without waterlogging the roots. Harvest fresh shell limas when pods are plump and seeds have changed from watery green toward creamy maturity.

Growth habit: Vining/Climbing. Mature height: 97–120 in. Support: Trellis. Soil pH target: 6.0–6.5.

Inspect the crop at least twice each week and more often during flowering and harvest. Look beneath leaves, inside dense canopies, and along the soil line. Correct water, airflow, and support before reaching for a treatment.

Use a soil test when fertility or pH is uncertain. More fertilizer is not the same as better care. Excess nitrogen can delay flowers and encourage soft growth in fruiting crops and legumes alike.

Practical field notes for Alabama Blackeyed Pole Butterbean

1. Record seed-zone temperature, not only room temperature.

2. Thin or transplant before roots and foliage become crowded.

3. Install stakes or trellises before the mature plant needs them.

4. Water deeply enough to reach the active root zone, then allow drainage and oxygen to return.

5. Keep foliage as dry as practical in humid weather and avoid working wet plants.

6. Harvest at the stage required for the kitchen: tender pod, fresh shell, ripe fruit, or dry seed.

7. Mark seed-saving plants before the best harvest disappears into the kitchen.

8. Remove obvious off-types before they flower when preserving a named variety.

9. Photograph representative plants and fruit with the date and lot number.

10. Save seed only after it is fully mature, thoroughly dry, and properly labeled.

Complete growing guide

Practical field and garden tips

Practical field notes for Alabama Blackeyed Pole Butterbean

1. Record seed-zone temperature, not only room temperature.

2. Thin or transplant before roots and foliage become crowded.

3. Install stakes or trellises before the mature plant needs them.

4. Water deeply enough to reach the active root zone, then allow drainage and oxygen to return.

5. Keep foliage as dry as practical in humid weather and avoid working wet plants.

6. Harvest at the stage required for the kitchen: tender pod, fresh shell, ripe fruit, or dry seed.

7. Mark seed-saving plants before the best harvest disappears into the kitchen.

8. Remove obvious off-types before they flower when preserving a named variety.

9. Photograph representative plants and fruit with the date and lot number.

10. Save seed only after it is fully mature, thoroughly dry, and properly labeled.

Harvest, storage, uses, and benefitsWhen and how to harvest, ways to use the crop, storage, culinary value, habitat value, and garden roles

Harvest and use notes

Uses and benefits of Alabama Blackeyed Pole Butterbean

Best uses: fresh shelling, dry beans, butterbean dishes, soups, and hot-climate gardens.

Flavor and texture: creamy, buttery, and substantial with Southern shell-bean character.

Harvest quality depends on timing. Young pods and fruit can be crisp and green; fully ripe fruit or mature seed can be sweeter, richer, hotter, drier, or more aromatic. Compare stages and keep notes.

Open-pollinated varieties support seed saving, crop comparison, selection, and local adaptation. That value only continues when seed is saved from enough healthy plants and records remain attached.

How to save seed from Alabama Blackeyed Pole Butterbean

Lima beans can cross more readily than common beans. Use meaningful isolation, cages, or controlled pollination if varietal purity matters. Save seed from many healthy plants, let pods dry fully, shell and inspect, and store only after the large seeds are thoroughly dry.

Choose seed parents before the end of the season. Save from several healthy plants rather than one remarkable specimen, and exclude plants with serious disease, poor vigor, or traits outside the variety description.

Drying is part of maturity. Seed that feels dry on the surface may still contain enough internal moisture to mold in a sealed container. Finish drying in shade with airflow, then label variety, species, year, source, plant count, and isolation method.

Run a germination test before replanting or sharing older seed. Seed stewardship is not proven by possessing a jar; it is proven when the seed grows true again.

Uses and benefits

Seed saving and carrying the variety forwardPollination, isolation, selection, harvest, cleaning, drying, and storage

How to save seed from Alabama Blackeyed Pole Butterbean

Lima beans can cross more readily than common beans. Use meaningful isolation, cages, or controlled pollination if varietal purity matters. Save seed from many healthy plants, let pods dry fully, shell and inspect, and store only after the large seeds are thoroughly dry.

Choose seed parents before the end of the season. Save from several healthy plants rather than one remarkable specimen, and exclude plants with serious disease, poor vigor, or traits outside the variety description.

Drying is part of maturity. Seed that feels dry on the surface may still contain enough internal moisture to mold in a sealed container. Finish drying in shade with airflow, then label variety, species, year, source, plant count, and isolation method.

Run a germination test before replanting or sharing older seed. Seed stewardship is not proven by possessing a jar; it is proven when the seed grows true again.

Problems and answersPests, diseases, troubleshooting, practical response, and product-specific questions

Variety troubleshooting summary

Common pests, diseases, and growing problems for Alabama Blackeyed Pole Butterbean

Watch for bean beetles, aphids, leafhoppers, mites, stink bugs, caterpillars, bacterial blights, anthracnose, rust, mosaic viruses, and root rots. Rotation, clean seed, airflow, and avoiding wet foliage are the first defenses. Raw or undercooked lima beans should not be eaten; cook thoroughly.

Start diagnosis with pattern: one plant or the whole row, old leaves or new growth, wet weather or drought, roots or foliage, chewing or discoloration. Several problems look alike from the path.

Use integrated management: prevention, rotation, sanitation, airflow, resistant varieties where appropriate, hand removal, barriers, biological controls, and correctly labeled products only when needed. Protect pollinators and follow the label.

Frequently asked questions about Alabama Blackeyed Pole Butterbean

Q: What is the scientific name?
A: Phaseolus lunatus L.

Q: How many seeds are in a packet?
A: The listed minimum is 20 seeds. Minimum means the packet is filled to at least that count, not that every seed will emerge under every condition.

Q: How long does germination take?
A: The recorded range is 7-14 Days under suitable moisture, oxygen, and temperature.

Q: Does it need support?
A: Trellis

Q: What is it best used for?
A: fresh shelling, dry beans, butterbean dishes, soups, and hot-climate gardens.

Q: Can it grow in a container?
A: It can when the container is large enough for the mature plant, drains well, receives full light, and has reliable water and any required support.

Q: Can I save seed?
A: Yes, because the variety is sold as open-pollinated unless stated otherwise. Follow species-specific isolation and population guidance.

Q: Why might my results differ from the description?
A: Soil, temperature, season length, water, disease, pollination, harvest timing, and seed purity all affect the crop. Use the description as an identity and planning record, not a guarantee against weather.

Complete pest and problem guide

Questions gardeners ask

Frequently asked questions about Alabama Blackeyed Pole Butterbean

Q: What is the scientific name?
A: Phaseolus lunatus L.

Q: How many seeds are in a packet?
A: The listed minimum is 20 seeds. Minimum means the packet is filled to at least that count, not that every seed will emerge under every condition.

Q: How long does germination take?
A: The recorded range is 7-14 Days under suitable moisture, oxygen, and temperature.

Q: Does it need support?
A: Trellis

Q: What is it best used for?
A: fresh shelling, dry beans, butterbean dishes, soups, and hot-climate gardens.

Q: Can it grow in a container?
A: It can when the container is large enough for the mature plant, drains well, receives full light, and has reliable water and any required support.

Q: Can I save seed?
A: Yes, because the variety is sold as open-pollinated unless stated otherwise. Follow species-specific isolation and population guidance.

Q: Why might my results differ from the description?
A: Soil, temperature, season length, water, disease, pollination, harvest timing, and seed purity all affect the crop. Use the description as an identity and planning record, not a guarantee against weather.

History, provenance, and cultural contextWhat is documented, what is reported, what remains uncertain, and how the variety reached gardeners

Scientific name: Phaseolus lunatus L.

Provenance summary

History and provenance of Alabama Blackeyed Pole Butterbean

Alabama Blackeyed is circulated as a Southern pole butterbean. Detailed family provenance can vary among seed stocks, so preserve the distinctive seed pattern, pole habit, and culinary quality together.

Botanical identity: Phaseolus lunatus L.. A scientific name does not replace the variety story, but it prevents unrelated crops from being folded together under a familiar common name.

Where the surviving record is a family account, catalog claim, regional tradition, or modern selection, we name it that way. We do not turn repetition into proof or uncertainty into a selling point.

Sources consulted:
https://extension.umn.edu/vegetables/growing-beans
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/techniques/collecting-storing-seeds-your-garden
https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/trellises-and-cages

Plant and variety history

Source and record notes

https://extension.umn.edu/vegetables/growing-beans
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/techniques/collecting-storing-seeds-your-garden
https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/trellises-and-cages

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