Fertilising guide

How to fertilise Fordhook Lima Bean (Phaseolus lunatus 'Fordhook')— schedule & NPK

Also called Fordhook Lima Bean, Fordhook 242, Butter Bean, Large Lima Bean.

More about fordhook lima bean

About Fordhook Lima Bean

Phaseolus lunatus 'Fordhook' · also called Fordhook Lima Bean, Fordhook 242 · edible

A classic heirloom bush lima bean introduced by W. Atlee Burpee in 1907 and still the benchmark large-seeded lima. Thick, creamy white seeds with a rich, buttery flavour mature in 75–85 days. More heat-tolerant than many lima types. Prolific and reliable for both fresh shell beans and dried storage. A cornerstone of American home-garden food production.

Growth habit: Compact, erect bush annual

What fertiliser fordhook lima bean actually wants — and why

Fordhook Lima Bean feeds in two distinct phases — balanced to build the plant, then high-potassium the moment flowering starts to set and fill a heavy crop.

For the language behind the three numbers on the bottle — what nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium each do — see the NPK ratio explained entry. The short version for fordhook lima bean: match the feed to the job the plant is doing right now, not to a generic “plant food” on the shelf.

How often to feed fordhook lima bean, and which months

Feeding only earns its keep while the plant is in active growth and can use the nutrients — pour feed into a dormant or low-light plant and it simply builds up as root-burning salt. For fordhook lima bean:

Incorporate compost before planting. Apply 5-10-10 starter fertiliser at sowing. After Rhizobium establishes, avoid further nitrogen. A potassium-rich liquid feed at pod-fill stage (e.g. tomato feed) boosts seed quality and flavour. So: a balanced feed or compost at planting, then a high-potash liquid every 1-2 weeks from first flower through harvest across the main season (spring through early autumn).

The dormant-season rule matters more than the exact interval: skip feeding entirely when fordhook lima bean is resting. For the wider context on indoor feeding rhythms across the seasons, the houseplant fertiliser schedule walks through the year month by month.

What strength to mix for fordhook lima bean

Follow the crop-feed label rate for fordhook lima bean — these are calibrated for hungry vegetables. Consistency through fruiting matters more than strength; erratic feeding causes problems like blossom-end rot.

Feeding always goes onto already-damp soil, never dry roots — water fordhook lima bean first if the soil is dry, then apply the diluted feed. The companion question is when to water at all, covered in the fordhook lima bean watering schedule.

Signs you are over-feeding fordhook lima bean

Over-feeding is far more common — and more damaging — than under-feeding for most plants. The classic tells for fordhook lima bean:

Vigorous dark-green leafy growth but few flowers or fruit (excess nitrogen).
Lush foliage hiding the crop; soft growth prone to pests and disease.
Salt crust on the soil and scorched leaf edges in containers.

Signs you are under-feeding fordhook lima bean

Pale, yellowing lower leaves and stunted growth.
Small fruit, poor set, and a quickly exhausted plant.
Blossom-end rot and weak cropping from erratic or insufficient feeding.

If the symptoms point at watering, light or roots rather than nutrition, the full fordhook lima bean care brief covers soil, humidity and the common problems for this species.

Flushing and leaching the salts

In containers, fertiliser salts build up fast — water fordhook lima bean thoroughly so excess drains from the base each time, and flush pots with plain water every few weeks to prevent a damaging salt build-up.

Organic vs synthetic feeds for fordhook lima bean

Organic options

Garden compost or well-rotted manure dug in before planting, plus a liquid comfrey or seaweed feed once fruiting starts. UK: comfrey feed or organic Tomorite; US: Espoma Tomato-tone or Neptune's Harvest. Builds soil and feeds in one.

Synthetic / liquid feeds

A balanced feed at planting then a high-potash tomato feed in fruiting — UK: Growmore at planting then Tomorite (Levington) or Phostrogen; US: a balanced 10-10-10 then Miracle-Gro Tomato or a bloom booster.

Brand names are examples, not endorsements, and UK and US ranges differ — check the label’s own NPK and dilution rate, since formulations change.

Fertilising fordhook lima bean — frequently asked questions

What fertiliser does fordhook lima bean need?

Balanced (even N-P-K) at planting for roots and frame, then switch to a high-potassium ("high-potash") tomato-style feed once the first flowers open — potassium is what sizes and ripens fruit, not nitrogen. Fordhook Lima Bean feeds in two distinct phases — balanced to build the plant, then high-potassium the moment flowering starts to set and fill a heavy crop.

How often should I feed fordhook lima bean?

Incorporate compost before planting. Apply 5-10-10 starter fertiliser at sowing. After Rhizobium establishes, avoid further nitrogen. A potassium-rich liquid feed at pod-fill stage (e.g. tomato feed) boosts seed quality and flavour. Incorporate compost before planting. Apply 5-10-10 starter fertiliser at sowing. After Rhizobium establishes, avoid further nitrogen. A potassium-rich liquid feed at pod-fill stage (e.g. tomato feed) boosts seed quality and flavour. So: a balanced feed or compost at planting, then a high-potash liquid every 1-2 weeks from first flower through harvest across the main season (spring through early autumn).

What strength of feed for fordhook lima bean?

What does over-feeding fordhook lima bean look like?

Vigorous dark-green leafy growth but few flowers or fruit (excess nitrogen). Lush foliage hiding the crop; soft growth prone to pests and disease. Salt crust on the soil and scorched leaf edges in containers. Staying on a high-nitrogen feed once fordhook lima bean starts flowering is the classic error — you get a huge leafy plant and a disappointing crop. Switch to high-potash the moment flowers appear.

Should I flush the soil of fordhook lima bean?