Jackson Wonder Lima Beans

Enlarge Image Image Gallery Yummy and beautiful, ‘Jackson Wonder’ lima beans are a treat. PHOTO: ROB CARDILLO

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As a kid, I was never fond of lima beans, but as I came to know more about the heirloom varieties and the wide range of tastes and textures that make them so special, I learned that the mealy mush balls sold frozen in supermarkets (or worse, the ones from cans) just don’t make the grade. Of all the heirloom bush limas still available today, ‘Jackson Wonder’ is one of the hardiest and most visually attractive. Best of all, it has a meaty flavor more like a baking bean than a lima, so it has a versatility that sets it apart.

‘Jackson Wonder’ was developed by Thomas Jackson of Atlanta, and introduced commercially in 1888 by David Landreth & Sons of Philadelphia. The bean is aptly named because it’s both a dwarf bush, growing about 12 to 18 inches tall, and one of the most prolific producers of beans all summer long. Jackson developed the lima for market gardeners who wanted to avoid the fuss of growing limas on poles. (Some traditional varieties require poles as tall as 16 feet.) Harvesting beans at that height is more than just timeconsuming — it also requires the use of a ladder, so Jackson’s creation was greeted with enthusiasm. These lima beans’ most unique characteristic, however, may be their color: not your typical lima-bean green. They’re a brilliant scarlet with maroon speckles. They’re so attractive, in fact, that some Victorian hobbyists even made jewelry with them.

I first came across ‘Jackson Wonder’ at a farming conference in central Pennsylvania where it was being touted as an old Pennsylvania Dutch variety. Having studied Pennsylvania Dutch gardens for many years, I didn’t think this was true because much of Pennsylvania wasn’t good lima bean country (the nights are too cool). But when I saw the brilliant beans in a jar of chow-chow (pickled mixed vegetables), I couldn’t help but smile — this lima had certainly found its place in the hearts of Pennsylvania Dutch housewives.

That day I discovered that this lima could be grown just about anywhere in the state — certainly in the coldest parts of Zone 6 and the warmer areas of Zone 5. I’m not sure Thomas Jackson knew that back in 1888, but the test of time has proven it, which is one of the nice things about growing heirlooms.

‘Jackson Wonder’ does not need little stakes like some bush limas do because the plants are extremely compact and they support each other if planted close together. The pods form in massive clusters close to the central stem, so the plants aren’t in danger of toppling over. The only downside to bush limas with pods that close to the ground is that a wet, rainy summer can be their undoing, especially if you’re trying to save seed by allowing the beans to ripen on the vine. On the other hand, hot, dry summers work perfectly. You can probably grow the lima in most parts of the continental United States, with the exception of the rainy northwest. Cool temperatures don’t seem to bother it as much as too much water does.

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