Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners is a citizen science program





'Kentucky Blue' Beans
 
Sub-Category: Pole
Green
 
Sub-Category 2:
Description: Pole green bean, cross of Kentucky Wonder and Blue Lake. 6- to 8-foot vines bear round, straight, stringless, 6-to 7-inch pods with white beans. Resistant to rust. 1991 All American Selection.
AAS Winner in the year 1991
Days To Maturity: 57-65
Seed Sources: Henry Field's Seed and Nursery Co. - updated in 2013
Lake Valley Seed - updated in 2011

 
Rating Summary
 
Overall: (4.1 Stars)Overall
Taste: (4.5 Stars)Taste
Yield: (4.1 Stars)Yield
Ease/Reliability: (4.0 Stars)Ease/Reliability
 
Reviews
 
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Number of Reviews: 8

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KEY: O=Overall Rating, T=Taste, Y=Yield, E=Ease

Reviewed on 12/26/2012 by Minnesota Mike - An experienced gardener

Overall Overall
Taste Taste
Yield Yield
Ease/Reliability Ease

Minnesota, United States
Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days
Soil Texture: Clay
Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40')
Sun Exposure: 6 to 8 hours per day

Good climber and producer, but not as good a canner as Jade. The K Blues get stringy if they are too old (I should pick more often) but if picked young, they are a good canner. I like the poles better than the bush beans as I can grow more beans for the space. I didn\\\'t have any problem getting them to sprout or with disease.
 
1 of 1 gardener found this review helpful.  

Reviewed on 10/27/2011 by GeorgeS - A novice gardener

Overall Overall
Taste Taste
Yield Yield
Ease/Reliability Ease

Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, United States
Frost Free Season: 143 - 163 days
Soil Texture: Loam
Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20')
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

good yield and produced all summer into 1st week of October. Climbs well and produces beans from bottom to top of 7 foot vines.
 
2 of 2 gardeners found this review helpful.  

Reviewed on 06/18/2008 by containergardener - An experienced gardener

Overall Overall
Taste Taste
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Ease/Reliability Ease

Los Angeles, California, United States
Frost Free Season: More than 203 days
Soil Texture: Sand
Garden Size: Medium - 400 square feet to 1,600 square feet
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

In early April this year we planted Fortex and Kentucky Blue, a 4-foot double row of each. It's hard to say which is better. I guess the answer depends on which variety you ate last. They are both splendid. They put bush beans to shame. We had no trouble with germination. Each variety has to be picked at least every other day, and each yields 4 ample portions every other day. How do we eat them all? They are delicious as a first-course salad, boiled and cooled at room temperature with a little salt and olive oil (me) or entirely undressed (my husband). They are fine parboiled and then swirled in a sauce pan with a little olive oil and salt and pepper.
 

Reviewed on 02/04/2007 by talbin - An intermediate gardener

Overall Overall
Taste Taste
Yield Yield
Ease/Reliability Ease

Hennepin, Minnesota, United States
Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days
Soil Texture: Loam
Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20')
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

Like other reviewers, I have had a hard time getting the seeds started - they rot easily if there is a lot of rain right after they're planted. This is one of my favorite pole beans. It has Kentucky Wonder's better yields with Blue Lake's ability to hold on the vine without getting stringy and tough (and what I think is Blue Lake's better taste).
 

Reviewed on 12/18/2006 by starflakes - An experienced gardener

Overall Overall
Taste Taste
Yield Yield
Ease/Reliability Ease

Roberts, South Dakota, United States
Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days
Soil Texture: Sand
Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40')
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

In a very harsh summer of 2006 this bean did not compare to Kentucky Old Homestead or Yellow Wax on yields nor in ability to take drought and heat. It did produce moderate yields in a damp late September, but for all I had read about it being "sweet" and a surpassing other pole beans I honestly found Purple better and not that much difference with Rattlesnake or the Kentucky beans. The vines are about 5 feet tall.
 

Reviewed on 04/25/2005 by Jan - An intermediate gardener

Overall Overall
Taste Taste
Yield Yield
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Washington, United States
Frost Free Season: More than 203 days
Soil Texture: Not Sure
Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20')
Sun Exposure: Less than 6 hours per day

Great bean!
 

Reviewed on 01/21/2005 by old4garden - An intermediate gardener

Overall Overall
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Wyoming, New York, United States
Frost Free Season: 103 - 123 days
Soil Texture: Sand
Garden Size: Small - Less than 400 square feet (20' x 20')
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

This is one of the best tasting green beans I have ever grown. I have trouble getting them going in the spring, even though I do not start them until after June 6th as my Grandfather taught me. Usually have to replant. But once they get going watch out! Very productive.
 
2 of 2 gardeners found this review helpful.  

Reviewed on 09/13/2004 by Catskills - An experienced gardener

Overall Overall
Taste Taste
Yield Yield
Ease/Reliability Ease

Ulster, New York, United States
Frost Free Season: Fewer than 103 days
Soil Texture: Not Sure
Garden Size: Large - More than 1,600 square feet (40' x 40')
Sun Exposure: More than 8 hours per day

Kentucky Blues are very tasty, remain tender even when pretty big, and freeze beautifully. They are HARD to get going in spring. Not sure if rotting or eaten by slugs, birds etc. Although we ALWAYS have to replant them...we always do! They are tasty and forgiving if not picked daily.
 
1 of 1 gardener found this review helpful.  




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