How to Grow Butter Bean Fordhook
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Butter Bean Fordhook
Phaseolus lunatus
vegetableFordhook is a popular lima bean variety known for its large, plump, cream-colored beans with a rich, buttery flavor. This heat-loving vine produces abundant pods throughout the summer and is a favorite for both fresh eating and freezing. The plant grows vigorously on trellises or poles, typically reaching 5-7 feet tall.
When should you plant Butter Bean Fordhook in your zone?
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Example Butter Bean Fordhook timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Butter Bean Fordhook
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Butter Bean Fordhook
Around Jun 26≈ 70 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Butter Bean Fordhook dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives best in zones 5-9, though can be grown in zone 3-4 with a long season
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Get my Butter Bean Fordhook timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
7-10 daysEmergent cotyledons with thick stems; first true leaves appearing. Plant is fragile but establishing roots.
Ensure consistent moisture without waterlogging. Thin to proper spacing if direct seeded. Provide support structure nearby.
Flowering
3-4 weeks, with continuous flowering thereafterSmall white, pale yellow, or pink flowers clustered along the vines. Flowers are typically short-lived but produced continuously in warm weather.
Maintain consistent watering; drought stress reduces flower and pod set. Continue supporting vines. Avoid over-fertilizing with nitrogen.
Pod Development
2-3 weeks from floweringFlower petals drop; small pods begin forming and elongating. Pods grow thick and plump with developing beans inside visible through pod wall.
Continue consistent watering, especially during pod fill. Light feeding with balanced or phosphorus-heavy fertilizer. Keep vines supported.
Harvest Ready
4-6 weeks of continuous picking through fall or frostPods reach 3-4 inches long, feel plump to touch, and beans inside are full-sized but still tender (not yet hardened for dry storage).
Harvest regularly when pods are full but still tender and snap easily. Regular harvesting encourages continued production. Handle plants gently.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Remove by hand; use yellow sticky traps; apply neem oil or spinosad spray; encourage beneficial insects like parasitic wasps
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Spray with strong water stream; increase humidity; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil; beneficial mites help control populations
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Spray with water or insecticidal soap; use yellow sticky traps; attract ladybugs and lacewings; neem oil effective
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Remove infected pods; wrap pod clusters with netting during laying season; plant early to avoid peak pest periods; crop rotation
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Improve air circulation; spray with sulfur or potassium bicarbonate; avoid overhead watering; remove affected leaves
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Remove infected leaves immediately; improve air circulation; avoid overhead watering; apply sulfur spray; crop rotation
Uses
Fresh eating and cooking
CulinaryFordhook butter beans are prized for their tender, creamy texture and rich, buttery flavor when shelled and cooked. They are excellent steamed, sautéed, or added to soups and stews. [source]
Freezing and preservation
CulinaryThese beans freeze exceptionally well, retaining their creamy texture better than many varieties. Blanch and freeze for year-round use in winter cooking. [source]
Dried bean storage
HouseholdAllow pods to mature and dry fully on the vine, then shell and store dried beans in cool, dry conditions for use in winter soups and dishes. [source]
Plant-based protein and nutrients
MedicinalLima beans are an excellent source of plant-based protein, fiber, folate, and manganese, supporting digestive health and providing sustained energy. [source]
Pollinator support
WildlifeThe small flowers attract bees and other pollinators throughout the growing season, supporting garden biodiversity. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Pick pods when they are full and tender, about 3-4 inches long, when beans inside feel plump but pods snap easily—typically 70-85 days after planting. Harvest every 2-3 days to encourage continued production. Use two hands to avoid damaging vines. For fresh eating, shell beans from pods just before cooking. For freezing, blanch shelled beans 2-3 minutes in boiling water, then cool and freeze. Once pods begin to yellow or harden, beans inside are becoming starchy and less tender; allow these to fully mature and dry if storing as dried beans (80-100 days total).
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Fordhook butter beans were developed by Burpee in the early 1900s and remain one of the most popular lima bean varieties for home gardeners today.
- 🌱 Despite their name, butter beans contain no actual butter—the 'buttery' refers to their creamy texture and rich, smooth flavor when cooked.
- 🌱 Lima beans are nitrogen-fixing legumes that can actually improve soil fertility by harboring Rhizobium bacteria in their roots, making them beneficial for crop rotation.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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