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Lima Bean

Fordhook

Fabaceae

Spacing4 per sq ft
Days to Harvest75d
Expected Yield0.5-1 lb shelled beans

Lima Bean

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Variety History

Fordhook, introduced in 1907 by Burpee, was the breakthrough bush lima bean — earlier and more reliable than pole types. It remains the standard for home gardens.

Regional Context

Lima beans are marginal in the PNW but worth trying in warm summers. Fordhook 242 (bush type, heat-tolerant) is the most reliable. Plant in the hottest, sunniest spot. A successful lima bean harvest in the PNW feels like a minor victory.

Growing Technique

Direct sow in warm soil (65°F+) — late May to early June on Bainbridge. Plant 1" deep, 4 seeds per sq ft. Both bush and pole types exist; Fordhook is a bush variety. Lima beans need more heat than snap beans — they will not germinate in cold soil. Inoculate with cowpea-type rhizobium. Keep evenly moist. Harvest when pods are plump and seeds are visible through the pod — shell immediately for fresh limas or allow to dry on the vine for dried beans.

Watch For

  • Cold, wet soil causes seed rot — do not rush planting. Limas need consistently warm weather to produce well — in cool PNW summers, harvest may be sparse. Slugs at seedling stage. Spider mites in hot dry spells — spray undersides of leaves with water.

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