Kentucky Blue Garden Bean Seeds

Days to Maturity: 58 from direct sow

Pole Bean

All-America Selections (AAS) Winner 1991

Wondering whether to grow Kentucky Wonder or Blue Lake pole beans this year? Why not have both—in a single variety. Kentucky Blue is the cross of these two classic varieties, with the best characteristics of both. For gardeners who love pole beans, it's nothing short of a dream come true.

These enormous 8 to 9 inch pods are straight, smooth, and plump, with dark green stems and light strings. A treat in texture as well as taste, they arise very, very abundantly on vigorous vining 5 to 8 foot plants that stand up to bean mosaic virus beautifully and continue to bear all summer long. The combination of great flavor and big yields on easy-care plants earned Kentucky Blue an All-America Selections award.

Many gardeners prefer pole beans for their distinctive "beany" flavor. Because they use vertical space, they free up the horizontal rows in the vegetable garden for other varieties while bearing abundant harvests. They're easier than bush beans to harvest as well.

Direct sow the seeds after all danger of frost, and for longest harvest, keep sowing at 3-week intervals until late spring. For fall crops, begin in late summer and continue until a month or so before first frost date. Support the vines on a trellis, tower, or poles spaced 3 feet apart.

This season, consider growing a Three Sisters combination planting of beans, corn, and squash. This Native American planting uses the three plants to help one another grow and fruit their best: the corn provides a "pole" for the bean to climb, while the squash offers groundcover protection for the corn and bean roots. Kentucky Blue makes a great Three Sisters member.