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How to Grow Pole Bean 'Blue Lake'

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Pole Bean 'Blue Lake'

Phaseolus vulgaris

vegetable

Blue Lake is a classic American heirloom pole bean variety known for its long, slender, tender green pods and excellent flavor. It's a vigorous climbing variety that requires support and produces abundantly throughout the growing season. These beans are perfect for fresh eating, freezing, and canning.

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Example Pole Bean 'Blue Lake' timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

  1. Plant Pole Bean 'Blue Lake'

    Around Apr 17

    Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.

  2. Tend & protect

    Late spring–summer

    Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.

  3. Harvest Pole Bean 'Blue Lake'

    Around Jun 11

    ≈ 55 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Pole Bean 'Blue Lake' dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily minimum
💧
Water: Consistent moisture, 1-1.5 inches per week; avoid overhead watering to prevent disease
📏
Spacing: 4 inches
📅
Days to maturity: 55-65 days
🌱
Planting depth: 1 inch

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil
pH: 6.0-7.0
Amendments:
Compost aged manure balanced organic fertilizer

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 3-10; prefers warm-season growing in cooler zones

2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a

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Growth Stages

1

Seedling

7-10 days

Cotyledons emerge within 7-10 days; first true leaves appear shortly after

Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; ensure good drainage to prevent damping off

2

Vine Establishment

2-3 weeks

Plants develop multiple stems and begin climbing support structure; true leaves are glossy and abundant

Guide tendrils toward trellis or support; water regularly and apply light mulch to retain moisture

3

Flowering

2-3 weeks

White or light purple flowers appear in clusters along the vines; flowers develop into small green pods

Maintain consistent watering during flowering; apply balanced fertilizer mid-growth if needed

4

Pod Development

3-4 weeks

Tender green pods elongate to 5-6 inches; pods are slender, slightly curved, and bright green

Pick pods regularly to encourage continued production; water deeply and consistently

5

Harvest & Production

6-8 weeks

Mature pods are ready to pick when tender and snappable; plants continue producing for 6-8 weeks

Harvest every 2-3 days when pods are young and tender; avoid harvesting when vines are wet to prevent disease spread

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

corn squash pumpkin cucumber carrot radish lettuce marigold nasturtium

Avoid planting near:

onion garlic fennel chives

Common Pests

  • Hand-pick beetles; use row covers on young plants; apply neem oil or spinosad if infestation is heavy

  • Hand-pick adults and egg clusters daily; use spinosad or pyrethrin-based insecticides; encourage native predators

  • Increase humidity with regular watering; spray foliage with strong water stream; apply miticide if severe

  • Ensure good air circulation; avoid overhead watering; apply sulfur dust or fungicides at first sign of white coating

  • Plant virus-resistant varieties; control aphids that transmit virus; remove infected plants immediately

Uses

🍳

Fresh Snap Beans

Culinary

Blue Lake beans are excellent eaten fresh, steamed, sautéed, or roasted. Their tender texture and mild flavor make them versatile for salads, side dishes, and stir-fries. [source]

🍳

Freezing & Canning

Culinary

These beans freeze exceptionally well for year-round use and are one of the best varieties for home canning due to their consistent pod length and texture. [source]

🍳

Dried Bean Storage

Culinary

Allowing pods to mature and dry on the vine produces edible dried beans suitable for storage and cooking year-round. [source]

🏠

Garden Nitrogen Fixing

Household

Like all legumes, Blue Lake beans fix atmospheric nitrogen through symbiotic bacteria in root nodules, naturally enriching soil for future crops. [source]

🦋

Pollinator Support

Wildlife

The flowers attract bees and other beneficial pollinators, supporting garden biodiversity and improving overall garden health. [source]

Harvest Tips

Pick pods when 5-6 inches long and pods snap cleanly when bent (typically 55-65 days after planting). Harvest every 2-3 days in warm weather to encourage continued production. Harvest in early morning when pods are crisp and cool. For shell beans, wait until pods are dry and brittle; for snap beans, harvest while still tender and green.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 Blue Lake was introduced in 1906 and has remained one of the most popular and reliable pole bean varieties in America for over a century.
  • 🌱 A single Blue Lake plant can produce 100+ pods throughout the season, making it exceptionally prolific compared to most vegetable varieties.
  • 🌱 The variety name 'Blue Lake' refers not to the bean color but to Blue Lake, Wisconsin, where it was extensively grown commercially in the early 20th century.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Damping Off Full Sun Heirloom Mulch Trellis True Leaves
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