Fordhook 242 is a lima bean that earned its stripes as an All-America Selections winner over 60 years ago and remains the gold standard for home gardeners who want reliable, flavorful shell beans. This bush variety grows to a manageable size, producing plump pods that bulge with creamy beans ready to harvest in about 85 days. The beans thrive in warm soil (germinating best at 70-85°F) and need moderate watering and well-draining soil between pH 6.0 and 7.0 to flourish.
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Moderate
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Moderate
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Fordhook 242 earned its AAS award decades ago and has stayed the benchmark variety for a reason: it consistently delivers plump, tender beans in a compact bush form. The pods visibly bulge when the beans inside reach peak ripeness, making harvest timing unmistakably clear. Bush spacing of just 6 inches apart means you can fit productive plants into modest garden plots, and 85 days from sowing to harvest fits comfortably into most growing seasons.
Fordhook 242 is grown for fresh shell beans, harvested when the pods are full and plump. The shelled beans are ideal for cooking fresh, simmered gently until tender, or frozen for use throughout the year. They work beautifully in succotash, soups, stews, or simply buttered and seasoned as a standalone side dish.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Sow seeds directly into the garden about 3 inches apart, 1 inch deep, in rows spaced 18 to 36 inches apart. Wait until soil temperature reaches at least 75°F (24°C) before sowing, as lima beans will rot in cold, wet soil.
Pick pods when the beans inside are plump and visibly bulge against the pod walls. This fullness is your clearest signal that beans have reached peak size and tenderness. Harvest regularly to encourage continued production throughout the season.
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“Fordhook 242 was recognized with an All-America Selections award over 60 years ago, a honor that spoke to its exceptional reliability and productivity among home gardeners. The award marks a turning point in when this variety became the standard lima bean choice for American gardens, a distinction it has maintained through decades of gardening trends. Its longevity in cultivation and continued seed catalog prominence reflect genuine performance in real gardens, not marketing hype.”