Henderson's Bush

Family: Fabaceae Legume

Henderson's Bush brings a lush, creamy sweetness to the garden—pods that swell with tender, pale-green beans, promising a delicate, velvety bite.

The compact bush habit makes it especially satisfying for home plots, with dependable yields and a smooth, meaty texture that shines in classic lima preparations. Grow Henderson's Bush for comforting favorites, from rich, spoonable sauces to hearty side dishes that celebrate its gentle flavor.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 65 DaysHabit: Bush

Botanical illustration of Henderson's Bush

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jun 29th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	65
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Bush
Support Needed	Bush
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	55
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Henderson’s Bush cooks up silky and spoonable, with that signature lima sweetness that gets even rounder when you simmer it long enough to let the starches thicken the pan. Use fat (bacon/ham) and assertive aromatics to keep the flavor lively, then finish with acid so the creamy texture stays bright instead of flat.

Best Uses

buttery spoonable limas with a ham/bacon-fat gloss
thickened lima-cream sauce for rice or pasta
quick braise with aromatics for a velvety side
purée into a silky dip or sandwich spread

Flavor Profile

creamy, sweet bean flavor tender, buttery texture mildly grassy/legume-leaning finish starchy comfort when cooked down

Kitchen Pairings

garlic black pepper bacon ham lemon parmesan

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s a common problem for Phaseolus lunatus (Henderson’s Bush) and how do I treat it?

A frequent issue is bean rust (often showing as small orange-brown spots on leaves), which can spread quickly in warm, humid weather. Remove and destroy infected leaves, improve airflow around plants, and avoid overhead watering. If it keeps spreading, use a copper-based fungicide according to the label and spray in the morning so foliage dries fast.

How often should I water Henderson’s Bush during the main growing phase?

During flowering and pod fill (roughly after plants establish until about mid-season), keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water deeply about 1–2 times per week, aiming for roughly 1 inch of water total weekly depending on heat and soil, and let the top 1 inch of soil dry slightly between waterings. Mulch can help prevent the drying spikes that cause poor pod set.

How can I tell when Henderson’s Bush is ready to harvest?

For fresh lima beans (Phaseolus lunatus), harvest when pods are fully formed and the beans inside are large and have a creamy look through the pod seam. If you wait too long for fresh eating, the beans turn starchy and can toughen; for dry beans, allow pods to dry on the plant until they rattle and feel papery. Typical harvest starts around 65 days from sowing, with picking often spanning several days.