Mature size & growth rate

How big does Fordhook Lima Bean (Phaseolus lunatus 'Fordhook') get?

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.

Mature size: 50–65 cm tall; pods 10–12 cm with 3–5 large seeds

Watch for — Slow germination / seed rot in cool soil: Lima beans rot rather than sprout in soil below 18 °C. They require warmer conditions than snap beans. Wait until soil is reliably above 21 °C, or pre-warm beds with black plastic mulch. Treat seed with a fungicide dust if soil is borderline.

Indoor size vs how big it gets in the wild

Fordhook Lima Bean reaches its full size within one growing season — there is no "long-term" size, just how big it gets before you harvest or it dies back. Indoors and in a pot, expect 50–65 cm tall. In the ground with no restriction it is a completely different plant — pods 10–12 cm with 3–5 large seeds — which is why the pot, the light and the pruning matter so much for the size you actually end up with.

It sizes up fast and once, racing from seedling to full size in a single season; after cropping it is finished, so size is a within-season question.

Growth rate and years to mature

Fordhook Lima Bean is a fast grower. Realistically, expect a single growing season — it reaches full size in one year, then is done. Its feeding profile backs this up: 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.

Want this turned into the right next pot at the right moment? The pot size calculator and the fordhook lima bean repotting guide cover when and how much to size up — pot size is one of the biggest levers on how fast fordhook lima bean grows.

How to keep fordhook lima bean smaller

You are not stuck with the maximum size. For fordhook lima bean specifically, these are the levers, in order of impact:

Choose a compact or dwarf variety of fordhook lima bean from the start — that is the most reliable size control for an annual.
Grow it in a smaller container to naturally limit how large it gets.
For some crops, pinching or pruning the growing tips keeps the plant shorter and bushier.
Sow a little later or space plants closer if you specifically want smaller individual plants.

How to grow fordhook lima bean bigger or faster

If you want it to fill the space sooner, push the conditions rather than hoping — for fordhook lima bean the accelerators are:

Full sun, warm soil and steady water are what drive a crop to full size fastest.
Sow at the right time for your zone so it gets the whole season to size up.
Feed appropriately for the crop and never let it check (stall) from drought or cold.

Light is almost always the ceiling. The fordhook lima bean light requirements page covers exactly how bright a spot it needs to grow at its potential instead of stalling.

When fordhook lima bean outgrows the room (or the pot)

"Too big" usually arrives as one of these signs for fordhook lima bean:

It sprawls beyond its bed or container before harvest — usually a spacing or support issue.
It flops or needs staking once it hits full height.
Once it has fruited or bolted, it is at its final size for good — the next plant is a new sowing.

If it is the pot rather than the room, it is a repotting job, not a goodbye — see the fordhook lima bean repotting guide. If you want more of this plant instead of a bigger one, the fordhook lima bean propagation guide turns prunings into new plants.

Fordhook Lima Bean size — frequently asked questions

How big does fordhook lima bean get?

Fordhook Lima Bean reaches 50–65 cm tall when grown indoors, and far larger where it grows unrestricted (pods 10–12 cm with 3–5 large seeds). It sizes up fast and once, racing from seedling to full size in a single season; after cropping it is finished, so size is a within-season question.

Is fordhook lima bean slow or fast growing?

Fordhook Lima Bean is a fast grower. Expect a single growing season — it reaches full size in one year, then is done. Fordhook Lima Bean reaches its full size within one growing season — there is no "long-term" size, just how big it gets before you harvest or it dies back.

How long does fordhook lima bean take to reach full size?

Roughly a single growing season — it reaches full size in one year, then is done. Light, pot size and feeding move that timeline more than anything else.

How do I keep fordhook lima bean smaller?

Choose a compact or dwarf variety of fordhook lima bean from the start — that is the most reliable size control for an annual. Grow it in a smaller container to naturally limit how large it gets. For some crops, pinching or pruning the growing tips keeps the plant shorter and bushier. Sow a little later or space plants closer if you specifically want smaller individual plants.

How can I make fordhook lima bean grow bigger or faster?

Full sun, warm soil and steady water are what drive a crop to full size fastest. Sow at the right time for your zone so it gets the whole season to size up. Feed appropriately for the crop and never let it check (stall) from drought or cold.