How to Grow Henderson Lima Bush
Phaseolus lunatus 'Henderson Bush'
Henderson Lima Bush is an easy-to-grow heirloom bean variety prized for its tender pods and reliable yield in warm weather. Gardeners value this bush-type cultivar for its compact habit and good heat tolerance, making it a productive addition to summer gardens.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Henderson Lima Bush: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Henderson Lima Bush is not usually started indoors.
Direct sow seeds outdoors only after the last frost date once soil temperatures are warm enough for germination.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare your soil by amending it with compost and adjusting the pH to between 6.0 and 6.8 if needed. As a warm-season crop, you must wait until after the last spring frost when the soil has warmed up; do not plant early. Sow seeds directly into the ground at a depth of about one inch. Expect germination to occur within seven to twelve days under these conditions.
Space plants six to eight inches apart in rows, keeping them well-watered with one to one-and-a-half inches per week while avoiding overhead watering to prevent disease. Apply mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Since this is a bush variety, it generally does not require trellising or extra support compared to pole beans.
Watch for bean beetles, pod borers, stink bugs, and aphids; encourage beneficial insects or use organic controls if infestations appear. Rotate crops annually to reduce risks of downy mildew, bacterial blight, anthracnose, and rust. Harvest tender pods sixty-five to seventy-five days after sowing when they are young and succulent.
When to Plant Henderson Lima Bush
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | July – August | October – August |
| Zone 2 | — | June – August | September |
| Zone 3 | — | June – July | September – October |
| Zone 4 | — | June – July | September – October |
| Zone 5 | — | May – June | August – October |
| Zone 6 | — | May – June | August – September |
| Zone 7 | — | April – June | July – September |
| Zone 8 | — | April – May | July – August |
| Zone 9 | — | March – April | June – July |
| Zone 10 | — | February – April | May – July |
| Zone 11 | — | January – March | April – June |
| Zone 12 | — | January – March | April – June |
| Zone 13 | — | January – March | April – June |
Companion Plants for Henderson Lima Bush
✓ Good companions
Improve soil structure and don't compete for nutrients, beans provide nitrogen carrots need
Repels flea beetles and ants that can damage bean plants
Provides natural support structure for beans, beans fix nitrogen for corn
Repel Mexican bean beetles, aphids, and other harmful insects
Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, repel bean beetles
Break up soil for better root development, harvest before beans need space
Deters Mexican bean beetles and carrot rust flies
Large leaves provide ground cover and moisture retention, part of Three Sisters planting
✗ Keep away from
Inhibits growth of most garden plants including beans through allelopathy
Can inhibit bean growth and nitrogen fixation through root secretions
Allelopathic compounds inhibit bean germination and growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
