Henderson Lima bush beans (Phaseolus lunatus) are nutritious, buttery-tasting legumes grown for their flat, half-moon shaped seeds, requiring warm weather and full sun; they offer protein, fiber, and minerals, must be cooked to remove toxins, and grow as compact, early-maturing plants, perfect for home gardens, producing beans in pods that need proper harvesting when mature.
Key Details
- Botanical Name: Phaseolus lunatus (hence “lunatus” for moon-shaped).
- Common Names: Butter beans, chad beans, wax beans.
- Plant Type: Bush variety (compact, 12-24 inches tall) vs. pole (vine) type.
- Origin: Central & South America, grown as an annual in most climates.
- Uses: Eaten fresh (cooked), dried, frozen, or canned; good source of fiber, protein, iron, magnesium, B vitamins.
Growing & Care
- Sunlight: Full sun.
- Soil: Well-draining, warm soil (60°F+).
- Water: Needs consistent moisture, water from below to avoid leaf disease.
- Climate: Warm season crop, sensitive to frost, needs a long season.
- Harvest: Pick when pods are full (beans silhouetted) or when dry (rattling sound); harvesting consistently encourages more pods.
Important Notes
- Toxicity: Raw lima beans are toxic and must be cooked before eating.
- Varieties: Large-seeded (Andean) and small-seeded (Mesoamerican) types exist, with colors from white to mottled.
- Inoculation: Use specific lima bean inoculants for best results on new soil.
Growing Tip
- To check if pods are ready, hold them up to the sun to see if the beans fill the pod, almost touching.
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