What color where they when you planted them? There are some varieties that make dark soup and some white soup. I prefer the dark soup so I planted Jackson Wonder and Florida Speckled. They are green until mature or when you cook them. Mixed with a little side meat or bacon grease... yum yum!

Shot

if I remember right they were white when I planted the seeds...They taste fine..I just haven't seen this before (I am a newbie) and wanna make sure we are not gonna keel over from eating them!!
I wonder if they aren't mature enough..maybe cooking unmature limas could do it? they look plenty big to me though....maybe I just got the wrong seeds in my packet....

Did you cook them in a cast iron pot?

I had that happen with dried pintos once that I cooked in a cast iron pot. I had used that pot for beans before and since without that happening. But someone told me that will happen occasionally.

i didn't use cast iron..but maybe I will try a diff pot and see if it makes a difference thank for the tip!

They're no good, you must send them to me immediately.
KIDDING!! I'm just jealous cause I still have another week or so till harvest.

Some types of lima beans do turn a purplish color when cooked. I don't know why but it is normal. My mouth is watering just thinking about eating some with some fresh sliced mater, yum!!

I am almost wondering if I planted kidney beans instead? the water turns really purple/red when I cook them, do kidney beans climb? This plant (whatever it is) climbed rapidly and covered my entire bird bath and base area...has very long green pods sometimes with 8 or 9 beans in it, they are white when raw..

There's a big difference in the looks of a lima bean and a kidney bean. I mean, there's no mistaking them.

Lima beans have flat pods and rarely more than 6 to a pod, most are three or four, so I suspect you have some kind of common bean, that you are using as a shelly.

A photo would be helpful.

Shot

"Some types of lima beans do turn a purplish color when cooked. I don't know why but it is normal."

Sounds like Peggy knows what she's talking about and I believe what she says.

What is the name of the variety on the seed packet, fiveinall?

Jim

I found a reference to a 'GRANDO VIOLETTO' variety of bean that turns purple when cooked but I could not determine immediately if it was a Lima Bean or not. In any event it is not unheard of for beans to turn color when cooked.

I know that some purple colored vegetables or vegetables with purple markings *lose* their purple when cooked. I'm interested to know of any vegetables which *become* purple when cooked.

Jim

There are likely 50-60 different types of beans that are generically called "limas", they come in both both and pole varieties, and there are at least 25 different colors. Vermont Bean and Seed Company is a good online source of info and pics as is Cook's Thesaurus (linked below) of many of the varieties.

To further complicate the problem, many refer to the southern peas, field peas, and butter beans as "limas".

So, without knowing the actual name on the seed packet of the variety you planted it will be difficult to pin them down.

The 2 most common home garden varieties are Henderson and Fordhooks but neither of them turn purple when cooked. They go green. But they will interact with aluminum pans (Revere ware and the like) and take on a lavender cast to them. I suspect that is what you are seeing. If you cook in stainless steel, they should go green. If they don't then you have some other variety.

Hope this helps.

Dave

Thanks for all of the advice...
I unfortunately didn't save or write down my seed packet..just kinda put em in the ground and forgot about it! I have learned my lesson now though!!
I tried an experiment and used two different types of pans to cook in and both turned purple (so did the water) so I really just don't know seems a cross between a lima and reg bean..they taste great and we haven't keeled over from eating them so I am just gonna be thankful for the fresh beans nature has given our family...If I can find the camera ill snap a shot and see what you guys think!

I am from the south and we call them colored butter beans and they do turn purple when you cook them. I wish I had a pot full cooked right now and I hope you and your famiy enjoy eating them I know I have for over 50 years . They are a greatly appreciated dish in this area.