I wrote this article for ingredientsmagazineslc.com, an internet magazine based in Utah. Unfortunately, I didn't send it in to them.
Blue Lake Pole Beans can be great
Blue Lake Pole Beans are a variety of green bean that is now considered gourmet. It was developed by Ferry-Morse Seed Company and is a popular canning bean. Many rate it as the best bean on the market.
Considered an American classic this Ohio Heirloom has a mild bean flavor and a snappy crispness that other beans cannot match. People also prefer the Blue Lake Pole because it was developed as a stringless bean and so does not have any fibrous strings that may affect its enjoyment.
Blue Lake Beans will cook up tenderly and can be eaten right off of the vine or the bush. When the bean snaps in half, it is ready to be harvested and eaten. They are notable for their versatility and are described as sweet without the mealiness that other beans may have. They also provide a pleasant color to a dinner palette due to their dark green color. High in vitamins A, B and C, these beans are a member of the legume family and go by the scientific name phaseolus vulgaris linensis.
While Blue Lake Beans come in both pole and bush varieties, the Pole Beans tend to have a higher yield of beans that is sustained over a period of time that can extend into weeks. Bush varieties have a shorter growing season, but tend to ripen all at once. Some people have stated that the pole variety is superior in flavor.
How to grow Blue Lake Pole Beans below the ad.
Considered an American classic this Ohio Heirloom has a mild bean flavor and a snappy crispness that other beans cannot match. People also prefer the Blue Lake Pole because it was developed as a stringless bean and so does not have any fibrous strings that may affect its enjoyment.
Blue Lake Beans will cook up tenderly and can be eaten right off of the vine or the bush. When the bean snaps in half, it is ready to be harvested and eaten. They are notable for their versatility and are described as sweet without the mealiness that other beans may have. They also provide a pleasant color to a dinner palette due to their dark green color. High in vitamins A, B and C, these beans are a member of the legume family and go by the scientific name phaseolus vulgaris linensis.
While Blue Lake Beans come in both pole and bush varieties, the Pole Beans tend to have a higher yield of beans that is sustained over a period of time that can extend into weeks. Bush varieties have a shorter growing season, but tend to ripen all at once. Some people have stated that the pole variety is superior in flavor.
How to grow Blue Lake Pole Beans below the ad.
Grow Blue Lake Pole Beans
Blue Lake Pole Beans should be planted after the danger of frost has passed. The seed should be planted about one to two inches deep at the base of a six foot pole with poles about four feet apart. Planting the beans with corn will result in reduced yield for both crops and the corn stalk will not be able to support the bean plant at the bean plant’s maturity. If the plants are too close together, bean production will go down. It is also important to take into account the wind and the heat. If days get hotter than 85 degrees or a dry wind blows through the garden, it can affect the harvest, especially if these take place while the plant is budding.
Germination for the plant takes between one and two weeks, and the beans are ready for harvest in about 64 days. They require full sun and moderately moist soil. Pole beans will provide yield for five to six weeks, so they only need to be planted once or twice during the growing season to ensure a continuous yield and harvest.
It is important to get the seeds for the plants from a reputable dealer. Some people have reported not getting a high yield from their plants and the beans they do get end up fibrous with no seeds. These reports seem to be limited to a few varieties of seeds, but that makes it all the more important to find the right person who is willing to give the right seeds.
Germination for the plant takes between one and two weeks, and the beans are ready for harvest in about 64 days. They require full sun and moderately moist soil. Pole beans will provide yield for five to six weeks, so they only need to be planted once or twice during the growing season to ensure a continuous yield and harvest.
It is important to get the seeds for the plants from a reputable dealer. Some people have reported not getting a high yield from their plants and the beans they do get end up fibrous with no seeds. These reports seem to be limited to a few varieties of seeds, but that makes it all the more important to find the right person who is willing to give the right seeds.
Where to get Blue Lake Pole BeansBlue Lake Pole Beans should be prominent at the various farmers’ markets in Utah around July 18, 2012 depending on how they were grown. Members of a Community Supported Agriculture program may also see pole beans around that time depending on which farm they are supporting. Some farmers may be able to beat the frost by using hoop or greenhouses. For those who do not grow their own, belonging to a CSA or visiting the farmers’ market in their area is the freshest way to experience pole beans. Many farmers pick their produce the evening before the farmers’ market. The People’s Market may also be a good way for people in Salt Lake to find locally grown Blue Lake Pole Beans as they support the smaller gardeners who may have grown too much of a certain kind of produce to consume on their own. If those options do not pan out, Blue Lake Pole Beans can be found at certain upscale grocery stores. They should still be crisp and tasty, but nothing compares to those grown by a local farmer or gardener.
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