Cajun Pole Lima Bean, pre-1900 Louisiana Heirloom,

The story of the Cajun Pole Lima Bean is a treasured chapter of southern agricultural history, preserved through decades of dedicated family seed saving.

• Roots in Vermilion Parish: Historical and seed-saver records note that this heirloom was grown as early as 1900 in Vermilion Parish, Louisiana, by a farmer named Bannard-day Bourque.
• The Bourque Family Lineage: Mr. Ignace Bourque later maintained the variety, likely growing it since the late 1920s. It was eventually donated to Seed Savers Exchange (SSE) by Emilie Delahoussaye (LA DE E), ensuring this place-based southern treasure survived for modern gardeners.
• Heritage Farm Performance: When grown out at Seed Savers Exchange’s Heritage Farm in 2018, this variety demonstrated standout, above-average productivity, proving its resilience and adaptability in home garden settings.

Cajun Pole is wonderfully distinct from standard flat limas, offering unique physical traits and superior gourmet qualities.

• The Vine & Pods: Strongly climbing plants adorned with delicate white flowers scale poles and trellises with ease. Pods are slightly curved with a small beak, averaging 2.2 inches long by 0.6 inches wide, typically containing 2 to 3 seeds each.
• The Seeds & Plump Texture: What is noticeably different—and immediately striking—is how plump and round these small, white lima bean seeds are.
• Culinary Uses: Fresh green-shell limas offer a distinctly sweet flavor and an exceptionally smooth, creamy texture. Perfect for traditional Louisiana gumbos, succotasks, or simply buttered fresh from the garden.

Cajun Pole is a vigorous, heavy-yielding pole climbing crop tailored for gardeners seeking rare heirloom quality and rich southern flavor.

"Cajun Pole is a true hidden gem of the heirloom world. We love it because those small, remarkably plump and round white seeds offer a texture and sweet flavor that flat limas just can't match. Backed by over a century of Cajun family seed saving from growers like Bannard-day and Ignace Bourque, it's a stunning and delicious addition to any pole-bean trellis."

• Warm Soil Direct Sowing: Direct sow seeds outdoors in spring after all danger of frost has passed and soil has thoroughly warmed to at least 65°F (18°C). Lima bean seeds are sensitive to rotting in cold, wet spring soil.
• Provide Sturdy Support: Because these are strongly climbing vines reaching 7 to 8 feet or more, set up robust poles, teepees, or netting trellis systems before planting.
• Consistent Moisture & Sun: Plant in full sun with well-draining, fertile garden soil. Keep soil evenly moist during flowering and pod set to ensure maximum yields of plump, tender beans.