Most commercial green bean cultivars grown today are bush-type.
Bush beans mature at the same time. This is desireable for
commercial bean production because they can be mechanically
harvested.
Pole beans and half runner beans tend to have more flavor.
Additionally, pole beans mature throughout the growing season and
therefore yield a larger overall harvest in the same amount of
garden space as bush-type beans. A ten-foot row of pole
beans should provide the average family of three or four with
fresh beans about twice a week through the season.
Blue
Lake FM-1K
66 Days — Food production here in the fertile soils of
the Willamette Valley was once one of a primary industry of
Oregon. Bred for canning and fresh-frozen packaging,
Blue Lake beans were one of the preferred varieties until the cost
to hand pick soared and the invention of mechanical harvesters
changed planting trends to bush-type beans.
This
is a
BCMV resistant strain of the original 'Blue Lake' pole.
Its pods are stringless when young and tender, dark green, round,
tasty, and reach about six inches. They can be enjoyed fresh
as snap or shell beans, canned, frozen or dried. The plants
are vigorous, climb well, and are productive. About 95 seeds
per ounce.
Kentucky Wonder
(Old Homestead)
68 Days — A green pole bean with long,
fleshy, and stringless pods when young and tender. Very reliable, early
maturing, and productive. An old favorite enjoyed fresh, canned, dried, or frozen.
The seeds can also be used dry as an excellent baking bean.
About 75 seeds per ounce.
McCaslan
66 Days — An old Southern favorite introduced in 1912 by
the McCaslan family of Georgia who had raised it for many years
prior. The vines produce prolifically throughout the growing
season. Its pods are up to eight inches long and used as
snap (green or string) beans or shelled. The seeds are plump and
white. About 80 seeds per ounce.
Riggin's
Stick 68 Days (100 to dry stage)
— Sent to us by
Mark Chappel who told us that his family in Kentucky, on his mother's side,
have handed down these beans
since before the civil war. They simply called them "Stick
Beans" as
tobacco sticks were used as support for the heavy vines
to climb on. The stick beans are a favorite and they have a real "beany",
almost meaty flavor. Very productive. About 60 seeds
per ounce. Very Rare.
Romano
Pole (Italian Flat)
70 Days — Popular in Europe. Plants are six feet
tall with thick, flat, medium green, stringless pods that are 3/4
inches by six inches long. Pods are best eaten when young.
About 40 seeds per ounce.
White
Emergo(Sweet
White Runner Bean)
80 days — Similar to 'Scarlet
Runner' but with white flowers. Vigorous growth with
prolific yields of long, slender pods. The beans are quite
good when pods are picked young and tender. They are full of
flavor and fleshy with a fine texture. Pick regularly to
ensure a continuous crop
Runner
beans grow well in almost any soil but benefit from soil that has
been well-dug and manured. Support growing plants with
canes, netting or bean frames.
About 25 to 30 seeds per ounce.
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