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Pole Beans — Phaseolus vulgaris

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Pole Beans — Phaseolus vulgaris

layout: base.njk title: Pole Beans description: Growing Pole Beans in West Virginia (Zone 6b/7a) category: warm-season

Quick Reference: See detailed growing information below

Type: Annual (climbing)
Family: Fabaceae (Legume)
Sun: Full sun (6-8+ hours)
Water: Moderate (1" per week)
Soil pH: 6.0-6.8
Hardiness: Annual (frost-tender)

🌱 Expected Yield

  • Per plant: 1-2 lbs (significantly higher than bush beans)
  • Per 10' row: 10-20 lbs (8-10 plants on trellis)
  • Notes: Pole beans produce over a longer period (6-8 weeks) compared to bush beans (2-3 weeks). Space-efficient—vertical growing yields more per square foot. Regular harvesting (every 2-3 days) maintains production.

🏺 Heirloom Varieties

'Kentucky Wonder'

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange (seedsavers.org), Baker Creek (rareseeds.com), Southern Exposure (southernexposure.com)
  • Days: 65 days
  • Notes: America's most famous pole bean, dating to 1864. Flat, green pods, 7-9". Rich, distinctive "beany" flavor. Meaty texture. Vigorous vines to 10 feet. Productive over long season. The standard for pole beans.

'Blue Lake'

  • Source: Multiple seed companies
  • Days: 65 days
  • Notes: Round-podded counterpart to Kentucky Wonder. Dark green, straight pods, 5-7". Excellent flavor, less fibrous. Standard for commercial production. Vigorous, productive.

'Scarlet Runner'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Seed Savers Exchange
  • Days: 70 days
  • Notes: Brilliant red flowers attract hummingbirds. Mottled purple-black beans when mature. Young pods edible; mature beans for shelling. Perennial in zones 9+, annual in Zone 6. Beautiful ornamental.

'Fortex'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Johnny's Seeds (johnnyseeds.com)
  • Days: 60 days
  • Notes: French filet type. Slender pods, 8-10". Harvest young for tender, stringless beans. Delicate flavor. Vigorous vines. Excellent for gourmet cooking. Early maturing.

'Rattlesnake'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Southern Exposure
  • Days: 65 days
  • Notes: Purple streaking on green pods. Heat-tolerant. Sweet, tender flavor. Pods can grow large without becoming stringy. Vigorous, productive. Striking appearance.

'Goldmarie'

  • Source: Baker Creek, German seed exchanges
  • Days: 60 days
  • Notes: German filet bean. Yellow pods with purple streaking. Tender, stringless. Beautiful bicolor. Sweet flavor. Vigorous vines. Early and productive.

'Cherokee'

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek
  • Days: 65 days
  • Notes: Cherokee Nation heirloom. Purple pods with green mottling. White seeds with purple speckles. Good fresh or dried. Cultural significance to Cherokee people. Vigorous.

'Purple Podded'

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek
  • Days: 65 days
  • Notes: Deep purple pods turn green when cooked. High anthocyanin content. Sweet flavor. Vigorous vines. Ornamental value. Kids love watching color change.

'McCasslin'

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Southern Exposure
  • Days: 65 days
  • Notes: Appalachian heirloom from Tennessee. White beans for shelling. Green pods edible when young. Historic variety from Smoky Mountains. Adapted to mountain conditions.

'Lazy Housewife'

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek
  • Days: 60 days
  • Notes: Dutch heirloom, 'Luize Vrouw'. Stringless—saves work (hence the name). Green pods, 6-7". Tender, flavorful. Early maturing. Practical heirloom.

'Neckargold'

  • Source: Baker Creek, European seed exchanges
  • Days: 60 days
  • Notes: German yellow bean. Golden pods, stringless. Buttery flavor. Beautiful in garden and kitchen. Vigorous. Less common than other wax beans.

'Spanische Flagge' (Spanish Flag)

  • Source: Baker Creek, Seed Savers Exchange
  • Days: 70 days
  • Notes: German heirloom. Red and white flowers. Green pods with purple streaking. Red-speckled beans for shelling. ornamental and edible. Vigorous vines to 10 feet.

'White Lady'

  • Source: Baker Creek, Johnny's Seeds
  • Days: 58 days
  • Notes: White flowers (unusual for pole beans). Green pods, stringless. Early maturing. Compact vines (6-7 feet). Good for shorter trellises. Tender flavor.

'Black Valentine'

  • Source: Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek
  • Days: 65 days
  • Notes: Dark purple-black pods. Black beans for shelling. Green pods edible when young. Ornamental dark foliage. Vigorous. Historic variety.

🌾 Seed Saving

Method: 1. Choose healthy, vigorous plants with desirable traits 2. Leave pods on plants until fully mature—pods turn brown, dry, and rattle 3.

Harvest dry pods before heavy rain (can cause molding) 4. Spread pods in single layer in dry, ventilated area; cure 1-2 weeks 5. Shell beans by hand; pods should be brittle 6.

Winnow to remove debris—pour beans between bowls in light breeze 7. Ensure beans completely dry (test by biting—should be hard) 8. Store in glass jars or paper envelopes in cool, dry, dark place 9.

Add desiccant if humidity high.

Note: For varieties grown primarily for fresh pods, save from earliest, most productive plants. For shelling beans, save from plants with best flavor and yield.

Isolation Distance: - Primarily self-pollinating: Bean flowers are self-fertile - Minimum: 10-20 feet between varieties - For seed sale: 150-500 feet or cage flowers - Note: Some crossing occurs via bees (5-10%); isolate for pure varieties

Viability: 3-5 years under proper storage. Germination declines after year 3.

Special Notes: - Pole beans often have higher seed yield per plant than bush beans - Save from 10-20 plants for genetic diversity - Select for vigor, disease resistance, pod quality, flavor, earliness - Only save from healthy plants—beans carry seed-borne diseases - For Scarlet Runner (perennial in warm zones), can also save root tubers

Added to WV Planting Guide 26155 — The Loop Farmstead