Kentucky Blue Pole

Saturday, 24 October 2009 12:46

Combining the best of the popular Kentucky Wonder and Blue Lake varieties, Kentucky Blue green beans are straight, rounded and smooth. While the dark green pods can grow to 9”, they are most flavorful if harvested when the beans are 6”-7” long. Growers love this pole bean for its generous and reliable yield. Kentucky Blue pole beans are delicious steamed or sautéed, and they withstand freezing and canning nicely. Kentucky Blue Pole Beans are one of top choices for pole beans. Pole beans differ from bush beans, since they like to have support as they grow. They like to vine up onto things. Native Americans planted beans amongst their corn, allowing the beans to vine up onto the corn. Some people plant them next to a fence or run a wire several feet above their rows. These beans are slightly sweet, and have a very nice flavor. They reach about 7 inches in length at maturity and they can be used whole or snapped. A New All-America Selections Winner(1991).  Kentucky Blue was developed from the popular varieties of Kentucky Wonder and Blue Lake Pole garden beans. It produces earlier than its parents and very abundantly with round, 6 to 7 inch sweet flavored pods that produce throughout the picking season. Special directions for short season climates Sowing: Plant outdoors in late spring after weather has warmed and all danger of frost has passed. Plant 4 to 6 seeds per pole in hills. Plant seeds on their side covering seed with 1 to 1 1/2 inches of fine soil firmed down. Spacing: Provide 2 1/2 to 3 feet between hills. When planted in rows space rows 3 feet apart. Thinning: Thin to 3 strongest plants per pole in hills, when they are about 4 inches tall. Thin to 4 to 6 inches apart in rows. Germination: 1 to 2 weeks depending upon soil and weather conditions. Keep soil moderately moist during germination. Special advice: Beans grow best in a sunny location, where the soil is warm, loamy and lightly fertilized. Cultivate shallow and frequently until flowers appear. Avoid disturbing plants after that time, as it could cause the blossoms to fall off. Support with poles, trellis, string or fence. Water deeply by soaking soil. Pick when young for best flavor and texture. •    Maturity: Approx. 58 days •    Planting season: Late spring Go to table of bean varieties