VegetableBean
Kentucky Blue Bean
Pole Bean
Kentucky Blue Bean is a vining pole bean that brings together the best traits of two classic varieties: the productivity and hardiness of Kentucky Wonder paired with the stringless snap quality of Blue Lake. Reaching 60 to 96 inches tall, this open-pollinated, high-yielding cultivar produces abundant harvests in just 50 to 73 days, making it one of the fastest beans you can grow. Cold-hardy in zones 3 through 9, it thrives in full sun and tolerates heat and drought better than many pole bean varieties, earning its place as an AAS Winner for garden performance.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-9
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
High
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam
Preferred Temp70-85°F
Growth Stats
96 in
Height
—
Width
4 in
Spacing
50–59
Days to Harvest
PeriodAnnual
TypeVine
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
High
Zones
3-9
Size
96in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
What sets Kentucky Blue Bean apart is its dual heritage, it captures the vigor and cold tolerance that made Kentucky Wonder a legend while delivering the tender, stringless pods that Blue Lake enthusiasts crave. The vines are exceptionally high-yielding, rewarding you with continuous harvests if you pick regularly, and the beans snap cleanly when ready, making preparation effortless. Beyond the harvest, these nitrogen-fixing legumes improve your soil for future crops, and their heat and drought tolerance means they keep producing even when summer turns tough.
Common Uses
Kentucky Blue Bean pods are harvested and eaten as snap beans, picked when young and tender, with the entire pod consumed fresh. The beans are ideal for steaming, sautéing, or adding to stir-fries, salads, and side dishes where their tender texture and clean flavor shine. They can also be allowed to mature fully on the vine if you want to shell them for dried beans, though they're most prized for their fresh-picked snap quality.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
Early Summer
First Harvest
Mid-summer
Last Harvest
Early Fall
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Direct sow Kentucky Blue Bean seeds into warm soil after all danger of frost has passed in your area. One ounce of seed plants 12 to 15 row feet, or use 1/2 pound to sow 100 row feet. Sow when soil temperature is warm and the growing season is established.
Harvesting
Begin harvesting about two weeks after the plants bloom. Pick pods when they're nearly full-sized, about as thick as a pencil, with small seeds still inside, at this stage they'll snap cleanly when bent. Harvest in the morning for the best flavor and tenderness. Don't wait for seeds to mature and bulge within the pods, as mature beans become tough and fibrous. Pick every 3 to 5 days, or ideally daily, to encourage continued production and keep pods tender. Frequent harvesting signals the plant to produce more flowers and pods throughout the season.
Pruning
No pruning is necessary for Kentucky Blue Bean. Allow the vining growth habit to develop fully along your trellis or support structure. Remove any dead or damaged growth to maintain plant health and air circulation.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Phaseolus L.
Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Phaseolus
Duration
Annual
Growth Habit
Vining
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)VI (I)
History & Origin
“Kentucky Blue Bean represents a deliberate cross between two beloved American pole bean classics. Kentucky Wonder, developed in the late 1800s, became the standard for productive home gardens with its vigorous vines and robust flavor. Blue Lake, introduced in the mid-20th century, revolutionized snap beans by eliminating the fibrous string that plagued earlier varieties. This cultivar was created by combining the proven productivity and cold-hardiness of Kentucky Wonder with the eating quality and stringless pods of Blue Lake, giving gardeners a variety that performs reliably across a wider range of conditions than either parent could alone.”