Fordhook 242

Phaseolus lunatus

Early bearing and delicious, this is the best large-seeded variety. White seeds. Bush bean. AAS Winner.

Harvest

85d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun

☀️

Zones

1–11

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Height

18-24 inches

📏

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct Sow

Harvest

Direct Sow

Harvest

Showing dates for Fordhook 242 in USDA Zone 7

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Zone Map

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Fordhook 242 · Zones 1–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing4-6 inches

SoilWell-drained, fertile soil

WaterRegular, consistent moisture

SeasonWarm season annual

FlavorDelicious, mild bean flavor with tender pods and large seeds

ColorGreen

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 3	—	—	June – July	September – October
Zone 4	—	—	June – July	September – October
Zone 5	—	—	May – June	September – October
Zone 6	—	—	May – June	August – October
Zone 7	—	—	April – June	August – September
Zone 8	—	—	April – May	July – September
Zone 9	—	—	March – April	June – August
Zone 10	—	—	February – April	June – July
Zone 1	—	—	July – August	October – August
Zone 2	—	—	June – August	October – September
Zone 11	—	—	January – March	May – June
Zone 12	—	—	January – March	May – June
Zone 13	—	—	January – March	May – June

Succession Planting

Direct sow Fordhook 242 every 14–21 days from late April through mid-June in zone 7, which lines up with the UGA Vegetable Garden Calendar's guidance to make successive plantings of lima beans through May. Soil temperature needs to be above 65°F for reliable germination in 7–10 days, so don't rush the first sowing if you had a cold April. Cut off succession plantings by late June — seeds dropped after that point need to reach harvest at 85 days, and cooling nights in October can stall pod fill before the crop finishes.

Complete Growing Guide

Growing Fordhook 242 (Phaseolus lunatus) bean. Light: Full sun. Hardy in USDA zones 1 to 11. Days to maturity: 85. Difficulty: Easy.

Harvesting

Fordhook 242 reaches harvest at 85 days from sowing per Johnny's Selected Seeds. As an annual, harvest continues until frost ends the season.

Edibility: EDIBLE PARTS: Toxicity is only partially destroyed by cooking; therefore do not cook the ornamental, striped beans grown for the flowers and foliage

Storage & Preservation

Freshly harvested Fordhook 242 lima beans keep best in a cool, humid environment between 32–40°F and 85–90% humidity, stored in perforated plastic bags or mesh containers that allow air circulation. Under these conditions, fresh pods maintain quality for 7–10 days; shelled beans last 3–5 days refrigerated. For longer storage, freezing is ideal: blanch shelled beans for 2–3 minutes, cool rapidly in ice water, drain thoroughly, and freeze in airtight containers or freezer bags for up to eight months. Canning is also reliable; pressure-can shelled beans at 10 pounds PSI for 40 minutes (pints) or 50 minutes (quarts). Drying works well for mature, fully developed beans—allow pods to dry on the plant until papery, then shell and store in a cool, dry place. Fordhook 242's thick bean coat resists splitting during blanching, making this variety particularly suited to freezing without quality loss.

History & Origin

The Fordhook 242 lima bean descends from the Fordhook line, a series of improved large-seeded varieties developed by the W. Atlee Burpee Company in the early twentieth century. The original Fordhook lima became a standard American garden variety, and subsequent numbered selections refined plant vigor and seed quality. Fordhook 242 represents a later iteration in this breeding continuum, selected for earlier maturity and consistent performance in home gardens. While specific breeder attribution and exact development year remain undocumented in readily available sources, this variety exemplifies the commercial seed company breeding tradition that dominated American vegetable improvement during the mid-twentieth century.

Origin: Tropics

Advantages

+Early maturity at 85 days means harvests before late summer heat stress
+AAS Winner designation confirms superior taste and performance in trials
+Large white seeds are easier to shell and cook than smaller varieties
+Bush form requires no trellising, saving space and labor in gardens
+Excellent flavor makes it ideal for fresh eating and freezing

Considerations

-Bush growth habit produces lower total yields than pole lima bean varieties
-Requires consistent moisture; drought stress causes flower drop and reduced pod set
-Large seeds need warm soil (70°F+) to germinate reliably without rotting
-All-at-once maturity can overwhelm small gardens with simultaneous harvests

Companion Plants

Corn gives Fordhook 242 something to climb without a trellis, and squash fills the ground below — less bare soil means fewer weeds competing for the consistent moisture limas need through their 85-day run. French marigolds (Tagetes patula) and nasturtiums both attract aphid predators like parasitic wasps, which matters because aphid pressure can build fast on bean foliage in hot weather. Summer savory has a decades-old reputation for deterring Mexican bean beetle specifically — not proven in controlled trials, but cheap enough to test in a border row. Onions, garlic, and fennel all release allelopathic root compounds that interfere with legume nodulation, so keep them at least 18 inches away from your bean rows.

Plant Together

Marigold

Repels bean beetles, aphids, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects

Nasturtium

Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, deters bean beetles

Corn

Provides natural support structure for climbing beans in three sisters planting

Squash

Ground cover suppresses weeds and retains soil moisture for beans

Carrots

Beans fix nitrogen in soil which carrots utilize, carrots loosen soil for bean roots

Cucumber

Both benefit from similar growing conditions and beans provide nitrogen

Summer Savory

Repels bean beetles and aphids, may improve bean flavor and growth

Radish

Quick-growing radishes break up soil for bean roots and deter bean fly

Keep Apart

Onion

Stunts bean growth and development through root competition and allelopathic compounds

Garlic

Inhibits bean germination and growth through sulfur compounds in soil

Fennel

Releases allelopathic chemicals that inhibit bean growth and nitrogen fixation

Nutrition Facts

Protein

1.97g(4%)

Fiber

3.01g(11%)

Carbs

7.41g(3%)

Fat

0.275g(0%)

Vitamin K

43.9mcg(37%)

Iron

0.652mg(4%)

Calcium

40mg(3%)

Potassium

290mg(6%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2346400)

Pests & Disease Resistance

Common Pests

Bean beetles, spider mites, aphids

Diseases

Anthracnose, bean rust, powdery mildew

Troubleshooting Fordhook 242

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Leaves with ragged chunks missing, some browning, on plants around 7 weeks old

Likely Causes

Mexican bean beetle (Epilachna varivestis) — adults and larvae skeletonize leaves from the underside
Bean leaf beetle (Cerotoma trifurcata) — chews irregular holes through leaf tissue

What to Do

1.Flip leaves and look for yellow egg clusters or orange larvae; crush them by hand if the infestation is light
2.Apply spinosad or neem oil to the undersides of leaves in the early morning when beetles are sluggish
3.Rotate this bed out of beans and other legumes for at least 2 seasons — adult beetles overwinter in soil near the previous year's planting, per NC State Extension's IPM guidance

Rust-colored pustules on leaf undersides, spreading plant to plant, mid-to-late season

Likely Causes

Bean rust (Uromyces appendiculatus) — a fungal pathogen that spreads by wind and splashing water, accelerates in humid conditions
Overhead irrigation or dense planting that keeps foliage wet for extended periods

What to Do

1.Pull and trash (don't compost) any heavily infected leaves as soon as you spot them
2.Switch to a soaker hose if you're not already using one — 1 inch per week at soil level keeps foliage dry
3.Don't replant beans in the same bed for 2–3 years; rust spores persist in crop debris

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Fordhook 242 bean take to produce beans?▼

Fordhook 242 beans are ready to harvest in approximately 85 days from planting. This early-bearing variety is known for its relatively quick maturity, making it ideal for gardeners looking for a timely harvest. The beans typically develop full size and tenderness within this timeframe, though you can pick them earlier if you prefer a more tender pod.

Is Fordhook 242 a good bean variety for beginner gardeners?▼

Yes, Fordhook 242 is excellent for beginners. It's rated as Easy difficulty and is an AAS (All-America Selections) Winner, meaning it has been tested and proven reliable across diverse growing conditions. Bush beans are more manageable than pole varieties, requiring no staking or trellising, and this variety is very forgiving and productive for new growers.

Can you grow Fordhook 242 beans in containers?▼

Yes, Fordhook 242 can be grown in containers. As a compact bush bean, it adapts well to large pots or containers at least 12 inches deep with good drainage. Container growing allows you to control soil quality and placement, though you'll need to monitor water more frequently than in-ground plants to keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.

What do Fordhook 242 beans taste like?▼

Fordhook 242 beans are described as delicious with a classic, mild bean flavor. The large seeds and tender pods have a pleasant texture and taste, making them excellent for eating fresh or cooked. They're a standard green bean variety without any strong or bitter notes, appealing to most palates and versatile in the kitchen.

When should I plant Fordhook 242 bean seeds?▼

Direct sow Fordhook 242 seeds after your last frost date when soil has warmed to at least 60°F. Plant seeds about 1-1.5 inches deep in full sun. You can make successive plantings every 2-3 weeks for continuous harvest throughout the season, extending your bean production from summer through early fall.

Why is Fordhook 242 considered the best large-seeded bean variety?▼

Fordhook 242 earned its reputation as the best large-seeded variety through its combination of early bearing, excellent flavor, and reliable productivity. It's an AAS Winner, indicating superior performance in controlled trials. The white seeds are distinctive, the plants are vigorous bush types, and the beans mature uniformly, making it consistently excellent for home and market gardeners alike.