When you are on the hunt for a lima bean variety that you can plant densely in a garden space either large or small, with a bumper crop that is easy to preserve, then what you need is Fordhook Lima Beans!
This fantastic, tasty bean variety is great for growing in warm climates and for maximizing on garden space. Read on to learn the ins and outs of growing and enjoying Fordhook Lima Beans.
Characteristics of Fordhook Lima Beans
The Fordhook Lima Bean, also known as the Butter Bean, has been a staple crop for many farmers and gardeners for decades. The plant itself can come in either a bush variety or a pole variety, though the bush is much more common. This is a lima bean variety that reaches a height of up to 20 inches and produces a bumper crop of pods up to about 4 inches long, each containing 3 to 5 plump, large beans.
The taste of Fordhook Lima Beans may very well be what defines their popularity on the consumer side of things. These beans truly live up to their alternate name of “Butter Bean” not only for their texture but due to their mild flavor. They have often been described as having a bit of a nutty aftertaste, which they retain well even when pressure canned, blanched, or frozen.
Fordhook Lima Beans Specific
Eating Them
Fordhook Lima Beans are a top-of-the-line variety for eating and are popular for all kinds of dishes! This is largely due to their fantastic flavor profile that holds up well whether eaten fresh or after canning, blanching, freezing, or other preservation methods.
Fordhook Lima Beans make a fantastic component to just about any dish you would want to use lima beans in. This includes, but is not limited to, soups, stews, and savory dishes like ham, beans, and cornbread. They pair well with many salty meats such as ham, and can also be added to chili, branzini, and other dishes for an added pop of fantastic flavor.
Mashed Fordhook Lima Beans can also be a great food for little eaters who are just beginning solid foods. When cooked to softness and then mashed, these delicious lima beans can help expand a kiddo’s flavor palate as well as expose them to new textures to help prevent picky eating.
With the bumper crop you can expect from most Fordhook Lima Bean plants, it’s a good thing these beans also do well preserved or dried! Can them, blanch them, freeze them, or store the dried beans for later use. It’s up to you to decide the best way to save your leftover beans so you can enjoy them down the road.
Health Benefits
Like many such varieties of lima beans, Fordhook Lima Beans boast many health benefits!
Perhaps the foremost of the healthy properties readily available in Fordhook Lima Beans is their soluble and bioavailable fibers. Coupled with the Fordhook Lima Bean’s low glycemic index, this makes this lima bean variety perfectly ideal for diabetics looking to meet a daily quotient of dietary fiber.
Fordhook Lima Beans are also rich in iron and protein, both of which help the body to function at optimal levels in terms of energy. The iron that is available in Fordhook Lima Beans is nonheme iron, which is free of fat and low in calories, so those on a strict caloric intake need not worry about their lima bean intake affecting these numbers.
Another wonderful health benefit in consuming Fordhook Lima Beans is the level of folate they contain. Folate is an essential nutrient for women’s health, particularly in those who are pregnant. Proper intake of folate helps reduce the risk of birth defects in a growing baby, so adding Fordhook Lima Beans to your regular diet while pregnant can help both mom and baby truly thrive!
In addition to all of these things, Fordhook Lima Beans also contain many vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that help the body in many ways. They can help reduce the risk of certain chronic diseases, heart problems, cancers, and much, much more.
Growing At Home
Fordhook Lima Beans are a particularly popular bean variety to grow at home. One particular reason for this is that, because their growing style is more like a bush, they can be densely planted without harming the plants or stunting their growth. This allows gardeners and farmers with minimal space to still make the most of growing Fordhook Lima Beans!
It should be noted that Fordhook Lima Bean plants are resistant to drought and heat, and they do best in particularly warm weather and hot climates. They do require full sunlight but minimal watering due to their drought tolerance.
You can begin the process of planting your Fordhook Lima Bean seeds once the threat of any frost has passed in your growing zone. Ideally, for the best health for your Fordhook Lima Bean plants, you will want the soil to be consistently about 65 degrees Fahrenheit for seed germination. Plant germination aboveground will be best when the air temperate reaches 77 degrees Fahrenheit or above.
Plant your Fordhook Lime Bean seeds in sandy soil at a depth of about 1 inch, with the seeds about 3 to 4 inches apart and rows spaced roughly 3 feet. Then, for continuous growth, continue to plant successive seeds every 2 weeks until about 2 months before the first anticipated frost of fall.
You will want to keep a close eye on your Fordhook Lima Bean plants. This lima bean variety does not have any inherent disease resistance, so regular mulching and watering near the base of the plant will be helpful in sustaining its health overall.
Where To Buy Fordhook Lima Beans
Fordhook Lima Bean seeds can often be sourced at local nurseries, lawn and garden centers, and even farmstands. If you are interested in sourcing your Fordhook Lima Bean seeds online, we recommend Hoss Tools for reputable, trustworthy seeds that are sure to bring about a bountiful harvest!
Wrapping Up Fordhook Lima Beans
Now that you know all there is to know about Fordhook Lima Beans, it’s time to get started on growing your crop! But before you kick off your project, be sure to check out our beans page to find out the details on bean plant growth and care, how to deal with pests and diseases, and everything else you need.