I am in southwest GA. My butterbeans are healthy looking, have bloomed their hearts out, and are still full of blooms but I haven't had any beans. What am I doing wrong? I have grown beans before but never had this problem.
This can happen if pollination is disrupted, which happens if the pollinators are kept from the plants. Bad weather, insecticide, and heat are what can keep bees and other insects from pollinating your garden. This article may help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/beneficial/insect-pollination-process.htm
Each year I plant my dwarf butter beans in my plot they begin to wither at the time just before flowering. . . . I usually lose more than 50% of my plants and get hardly any crop. . . other crop plants in the plot seem unaffected during their growth cycle.
It sounds like they may have Fusarium Wilt. The ones that are not affected may be in uninfected beds. This article will explain more about it:
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/r52101911.html
What kind of fertilizer should be used on speckled butter beans? How much and what amount? I live in northwest Florida.
I would recommend an even fertilizer, or amending the soil with compost. Keep in mind that all beans are nitrogen fixing plants, so be careful to avoid heavy nitrogen feedings, which will result in excessive vine growth and no beans. Here is an article that you may find helpful: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/beans/growing-butter-beans-in-your-garden.htm
I am looking for an old variety of large butter beans that my granny used to grow. It was a white bean that when cooked was a light tan. I am not sure if it was a pole or bush bean. Can you help?
You might be talking about either a Carolina butter bean or the Henderson butter bean. Both are white and were once very popular in the South. I am not sure if they cook to tan or not though.
I am going to try to grow butter beans for the first time. Can I use the same beans that I buy in the grocery that I cook?
It is possible to grow store-bought butter beans; however, these need to be the dry beans and not those purchased from cans. Soak them in water for a few hours and then sprout them in a jar with a wet paper towel, before planting them.
Here is an article that you may find helpful: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/beans/growing-butter-beans-in-your-garden.htm
How do you store fresh picked butterbeans?
Letting them dry on the plant will help with storage time. When you store them, also try putting them in a breathable container so that any leftover moisture can be let out from the beans.
Can you please tell me if I can grow butter beans in the UK (northwest), and if so, where I can get the seeds from?
Yes, you can. The seeds should be available through local garden centers, or you can grow them from store bought beans. However, these need to be the dry beans and not those purchased from cans. Soak them in water for a few hours and then sprout them in a jar with a wet paper towel, before planting them.
Here is an article that you may find helpful: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/beans/growing-butter-beans-in-your-garden.htm