As a gardening and landscaping expert, I can provide you with some insights on the Henderson Lima Bean and whether or not it requires a trellis for support.
The Henderson Lima Bean is a variety of bush bean that was first introduced in New York by Peter Henderson & Company in 1888. One of the primary reasons this bean gained popularity among local gardeners was because it did not require poles or a trellis for support, unlike the pole variety.
Unlike pole beans that grow as climbing vines, bush beans are compact and bushy in nature. The Henderson Lima Bean, being a bush variety, grows as a compact plant that does not tend to climb or vine. Instead, it forms a bush-like structure with multiple stems and leaves originating from the base.
This compact growth habit of the Henderson Lima Bean makes it well-suited for smaller gardens or container gardening, where space may be limited. Since it does not require a trellis or any vertical support, it is easier to manage and maintain. The plants stay relatively low to the ground, reaching an average height of around 2 feet.
Without the need for a trellis, you can save time and effort in setting up and maintaining the support structure. This can be particularly beneficial for gardeners who may have limited time or physical ability to construct and maintain trellises.
However, it is important to note that while the Henderson Lima Bean does not require a trellis, it still benefits from some form of support to keep the plants upright and prevent them from sprawling on the ground. Providing a low support system, such as stakes or small cages, can help keep the plants tidy and make harvesting easier.
In my personal experience, I have grown the Henderson Lima Bean without a trellis and found it to be quite successful. The plants were able to support themselves to a certain extent, but I did notice that at times, they would lean or spread out on the ground. To address this, I used small stakes to gently prop up the plants and keep them from sprawling too much.
While the Henderson Lima Bean does not require a trellis like its pole bean counterparts, it still benefits from some form of low support system to keep the plants upright and tidy. This can be achieved through the use of stakes or small cages. the Henderson Lima Bean is a convenient and easy-to-grow bush bean variety that is well-suited for smaller gardens or container gardening.
