For many years, the Blue Lake Pole Bean has been considered the STANDARD for all pole green bean varieties. In fact, in the early part of the 20th century, the Blue Lake Pole Bean was the only bean grown for canning purposes in the Blue Lake area near Ukiah, California where it was developed. In 1923, this wonderful pole bean variety arrived in Oregon, which at that time, was the heart of bean research and bean production in the United States. According to the late James A. Baggett of OSU (who contributed so much to the world of horticulture during his tenure at OSU as a vegetable researcher and variety developer), by the 1950's, over 10,000 acres of Blue Lake Pole Beans were being grown in Western Oregon.  As a result of the cultivation of this variety, Oregon's Willamette Valley in the north west part of our state, became famous around the world for their hand-picked beans.

Prior to this era, Blue Lake Beans were often stringy and many had colored seeds, but with its popularity in Western Oregon, it became much improved into the Blue Lake Beans we know and love today. Currently, most strains of Blue Lake Pole Beans trace back to the breeding efforts of the Ferry-Morse Company during the 1950's.

Today, despite its origin as a humble canning variety, Blue Lake Pole Beans are now widely recognized as a gourmet bean variety! Fine produce sellers and grocers who are in "the know" often advertise them as "Blue Lake Beans" opposed to selling them as simple "Green Beans", while immature pods of this great old variety are sold as "Baby Blue Lake Beans", which illustrate that even the non-gardening general public recognize this variety as the best green bean on the market.

In fact, despite the many new bean offerings by countless seed houses throughout the world, the Blue Lake Bean continues to more than hold its own against the new-fangled varieties created through scientific breeding and genetic modification! In a recent taste-test performed by Sunset Magazine, 5 out of 6 tasters preferred Blue Lake to the other varieties tested. 

Blue Lake Pole Bean produces a heavy crop of  delicious, tender, tasty green beans that reach 6 to 7 inches in length. Unlike Runner Beans, this lovely bean variety does not require the presence of bees for pollination. The jade green colored pods are ideal for canning or freezing, are stringless and are high in Vitamins A, B and C.

Some form of support is necessary to grow this wonderous bean variety as the vines will reach 7 feet in height.

Matures in 55 to 65 days..

The Missouri Wonder Pole Bean is a very hard to find pole bean variety that originated in the State of Missouri. Little is known about the history of the Missouri Wonder Pole Bean, save the fact that it has been grown for many years and is no longer as popular as it once was, having largely been pushed aside by the popularity of Kentucky Wonder Bean, as well as the famous Blue Lake Bean. As a consequence, the Missouri Wonder Pole Bean is now very hard to find and we are among the handful of seed companies still offering this grand old variety. In the old days, Missouri Wonder was a so-called "Cornfield Bean" that was planted along with corn and allowed to climb the corn stalks, which allowed farmers to not only maximize their ground space, but as a legume, the beans also helped to supply vital nitrogen to the corn crop.

The Missouri Wonder Pole Bean is a fabulous producer, putting on an amazingly large crop 6 to 7 inch, flat green pods containing brown striped seeds. This variety has a good flavor, but though Missouri Wonder does not match the likes of the Kentucky Wonder Pole Bean or the Blue Lake Pole Bean for superior taste, what it lacks in comparative flavor, it makes up with its hardiness. The Missouri Wonder Pole Bean does very well under harsh, adverse conditions and also handles the rigours of stress much better than other Pole Beans. In addition, each plant will put up 3 or 4 vines, which will bear bean pods from the ground level up. The vines themselves grow up to 5 or 6 feet in height, so some type of support will be necessary.

Missouri Wonder is ideal for use as either a snap bean (green bean) or for use as a shell bean.

Matures in about 75 days.

The Kentucky Wonder Pole Bean, also known as the Old Homestead Pole Bean, was originally introduced by the Ferry-Morse Seed Company in 1877 and has remained a popular heirloom bean variety ever since. This grand old Pole Bean variety is a fantastic producer of 6 inch long, fleshy, green, stringless bean pods with a distinctive green bean flavor. When it comes to Snap Beans or Green Beans, there are very few Pole Beans which can rival the Kentucky Wonder Pole Bean. Kentucky Wonder is one of the shorter vined pole beans, producing a vigorous plant that reaches only 4 to 5 feet. This allows for an easier harvest than many other Pole Beans.

This old fashioned favorite is best enjoyed fresh, but the variety can also be utilized canned, dried or frozen, as well. If used dried, the seeds can be used as a most excellent baking bean!

Matures in 60 to 70 days