Green Bean (Blue Lake)

📖 About This Plant

Green Bean (Blue Lake) has been America's premier snap bean since its introduction in the 1960s, prized for its tender, stringless pods and clean, classic "green bean" flavor that has made it the benchmark for canned and frozen beans. The bush-type plants grow about 18–24 inches tall without any staking required, producing clusters of straight, dark-green pods roughly 6 inches in length. Blue Lake beans mature in approximately 55–60 days from direct sowing — fast enough for two successions in most US growing zones. They are equally excellent for fresh eating, blanching and freezing for winter, or canning in a pressure canner, and their mild flavor makes them accessible to even picky eaters.

📊 Quick Facts

📅 When to Plant in Your Area

🌱 Care Tips

Direct sow Blue Lake seeds after your last frost date, planting 1 inch deep and 3 inches apart in rows 18 inches wide. Never soak seeds before planting — they can split. Beans are nitrogen-fixers, so skip heavy nitrogen fertilizer which promotes foliage at the expense of pods; a light balanced fertilizer at planting is sufficient. Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged — bean pods that develop in drought conditions become tough and stringy. Watch for bean beetles, which chew small round holes in foliage; hand-pick or use insecticidal soap spray early. Begin harvesting when pods are firm and snap cleanly at about 6 inches — typically 55–60 days from sowing. Pick every 2–3 days at peak production; pods left to mature and yellow will stop the plant from producing new ones. For a second crop, sow again in midsummer for a fall harvest in zones 5–9.

🤝 Companion Plants

These plants grow well alongside Green Bean:

🌿 Related Vegetable

More vegetable that grow in similar conditions:

❓ Frequently Asked Questions