Comparing 5 Different Pole Beans From Planting To Harvest

[@smorgis]

Your voice is so comforting

[@MidwestGardener]

Thank you!

[@dmendez4741]

Like listening to Bob Ross!

[@clairewings4412]

Loved this video. Thanks! My # 1 must-grow pole bean is the prolific producer Spanish Musica. Its flat Roma type pods are wonderfully flavorful, and mature into delicious fresh shelly beans. #2 is Scarlet Runner, another must-grow in my garden. Hummingbirds really go for their red flowers. Although Scarlet Runner pods are sweet eating, we allow most of the pods to mature and dry on the vines, as they produce tasty, plump, "meaty" dried beans for feasting on all winter long. Hummingbirds really go for their red flowers, and the dried beans -soft purple mottled with blue-black - are just gorgeous.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for the tip on Spanish Musica. I've thought about trying runner beans, but I've read that they are sensitive temperatures over 90 degrees F. That is pretty much June through September here. They sound wonderful for milder climates though.

[@Mary-uz2tz]

Monte Gusto for early and short season here in Alaska. Big producer, attractive, tasty, absolutely no strings

[@MidwestGardener]

Very cool that it works for you there too! Well described.

[@dmendez4741]

My favorite for growing fresh and dry beans is Mbombo beans, they produce quickly and vigorously in my hot and humid 5b Iowa garden. Weeks without rain or 6" in 3 days, they powered thru. And, they taste great and make a very attractive dry green bean

[@MidwestGardener]

Sounds great! Thanks for the tip!

[@globalgarden7313]

I love plant comparison videos. So informative!!

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks a bunch! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@HaphazardHomestead]

Your Monte Gusto beans look super nice. I will have to try those sometime, although I've already bought my pole bean stock in addition to seeds I've saved. My favorite, all time, pole bean is the old-fashioned Scarlet Runner pole bean. The plants grow so strong, the flowers are good to eat )and hummingbirds love them), the green beans are so big and they are built substantial. Some folks may not like the hairiness on them, but that's no problem when they are cooked. And the dry beans are something else. Black and purple splotched, and gigantic! Like eating a steak, lol. Well, a giant bean-sized steak, with great bean flavor. 25 of them is a meal! The plants have a long, long season. And then the roots are good to eat. Unless you want to keep them going, because they can be perennial.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing your experience with Scarlet Runner pole bean. I might have to check them out some time. Sounds like a good one.

[@CBsGreenhouseandGarden]

Mighty fine looking beans ya got there Mr. Jim. Thanks for the info on these. Stay safe and have a great weekend!

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks CB! You have a great weekend too!

[@jimstraightshooter163]

Usually grow Kentucky wonder and blue lake pole beans. Goldenrod yellow bush beans. Finally got some monte christo seeds to try this year, they were sold out last 2 yrs.

[@MidwestGardener]

Glad to hear you got some seeds, Jim! Good luck with them!

[@journeywithnichole]

Wow what a great video. So informative. First time gardener and planted a few different varieties but will definitely put Cherokee Trail of Tears on my next seed list. Thank you!!

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome! Glad it was helpful. Hope you enjoy your gardening journey!

[@elliestell2696]

Kentucky wonder has always been my favorite

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing that, Ellie! I used to grow Kentucky Wonder. I like several of these better.

[@Onniesprairiegarden]

Love this video. Can't wait to have more space so I can grow beans again!

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks Andrea! I think that things will work out just right for you....when the time is right :)

[@greenthumbelina7331]

Jim, in the past I've grown Kentucky Wonder pole beans. So far, I've purchased Seychelles and Monte Gusto pole beans to plant next spring. The plan is to grow them on cattle panels, which I've cut into 8 ft lengths, zip-tied to T-posts pounded into the ground. Hopefully, I can cut the zip ties and lay them down to harvest the beans if necessary, then reattach the panels to the T-posts using new zip ties. I'm about 5 ft tall and a bit leary of ladders, so that's my plan. I sure hope it works as good as I think it will. I hope you and your sweetheart have a great weekend. ~Margie

[@MidwestGardener]

That's an interesting plan for the pole bean, Margie. I would definitely stay away from those ladders....especially on soil. That dirt can be softer in some spots than others. I can already imagine how those cattle panels will look, covered with bean vines. You have a great weekend too!

[@bigtitan27]

The Rattlesnake beans are very prolific and a heavy producer. They also take our Southern heat and humidity and will usually produce up until frost. But as you mentioned if you leave the pods on the vines to long they can get tough and stringy. NT (non tough) half runners are my current favorite pole bean. You can leave them on the vine to form beans and the shells will still stay tender.

[@MidwestGardener]

Being able to stand up to the heat is important here too. We weren't all that hot this year, but some years can be brutal. Thanks for sharing how the half runners did for you. I've never tried those, so I might have to take a look at them.

[@bigtitan27]

@@MidwestGardener you may have heard of him, but if not Bill Best is a wealth of knowledge on heirloom beans .

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks!

[@shirleyk623]

That was a very nice selection of green beans. I like pole beans better than bush. They are easier to see and pick. I'm trying some new ones this fall. I have planted Chinese Red Noodle Beans and Blauhilde Beans. They haven't produced anything yet. I hope they are good. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Take care.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks! Yep, pole beans are a lot easier to pick. I think it's a great idea to try a few new types every once in a while. Everyone has different tastes, so there is only one way to find out which ones you like best....to grow them yourself. You and your family have a Happy Thanksgiving too!

[@4wheelliving132]

My personal favorite is Blue Lake pole bean, but I haven't experimented very much. I've found with pole pole beans less is more. The vines that seemed to produce the best were the thinnest spots. The heavy vines like you have didn't do as well and didn't produce as much. I space them about 10" apart

[@MidwestGardener]

Interesting! Thanks for the tip!

[@7upToday]

fortex pole, French gourmet , stringless, stays tender,tasty, hairloom ,pole bean.

[@MidwestGardener]

Sounds like a good one!

[@stegershomeandgarden.6971]

Good morning, I've always been an ole Kentucky Wonder man myself. This next season I'm gonna try a pole lime bean called" King of the garden". Have a wonderful Thanksgiving my friend.

[@MidwestGardener]

Good morning! I've grown Kentucky Wonder a few times. That one is usually a dependable producer. Hope that King of the garden works well for you. That is one that I've never tried. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving too!

[@BroadwayGardener]

Wow they grew so big and lush!!!😍 Those beans are beautiful!

[@MidwestGardener]

Thank you! It was like a jungle between those two rows.

[@shadyacrefarm1005]

Hi Jim, great video. I’ve only grew the rattlesnake pole beans and it always does well. I’m thankful you did this review as I want to try the monte gusto.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks! Yep, that Rattlesnake had pretty good staying power too. It was one of the last two I pulled. I hope you enjoy growing the Monte Gusto as much as we did.

[@eddieslittlestack7919]

My only experience with pole beans is one year and I grew rattle snake beans and yard long beans. The yard long beans I didn’t like no matter how much butter and salt I added even picked young. The rattle snake beans, picked young were acceptable at beast (to me) but I’m not gonna grow them again. I’ve always had blue lake *bush* beans so I think ima give pole beans a 2nd try and grow blue lake pole beans. Good video sir, thumbs up.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thank you! Yes, I think giving them another try is a good idea. Good luck with the blue lake pole beans!

[@Happy2Run4Me]

So far my favorite pole bean to grow and eat has been the Blue Lake. My husband loves them best canned, which is most often how we eat our green beans. I want to try the Cherokee Trail of Tears though because they look similar in shape and type. I had better productivity from Kentucky Wonder but my husband doesn’t care for the taste or texture as much as the Blue Lake. I haven’t been able to grow Rattlesnake yet successfully though I tried to this last fall to no luck. Maybe I will try again this spring and see how they do compared to the Blue Lake and a hybrid of Kentucky Wonder and Blue Lake called Kentucky Blue. Wish me luck!

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing your favorite. I agree with your husband about the taste and texture of Kentucky Wonder. It's been a few years, but I have grown grown Kentucky Blue. That one was really good one year, and not so good on production the next. Whatever you decide to grow, good luck!

[@shawnahubble1220]

I luv the Carminat pole beans..I have been growing them for the last 4 yrs..I use to grow Kentucky blue pole beans and tried the rattlesnakes but now prefer and only grow Carminat 👍Carminat are delicious and tender fresh or steamed from smallish 6” to longish 9” they always taste 😋And they are very easy to find on the vine😁

[@MidwestGardener]

Great point about Carminat being easier to find. I can't wait to get some fresh ones. Good luck with yours!

[@lynnlovessoil]

Nice video. So far I love Cherokee Trail of tears. I ordered rattlesnake to try next year.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thank you! Hope you like Rattlesnake just as well.

[@UT33200]

Lots of cool varieties and good info. We have lost our minds over here on beans and escalating even more next season. Our top 3 are Dragon Tongue, Cherokee Wax and Red Noodle but that is only because those are the only ones we have grown. LOL Those Seychelles look like a really good consistency to them. Thanks for the share!

[@MidwestGardener]

So you're saying that not a lot of thought went into your top 3 :) Yep, the Seychelles is a good looking beans as well as being pretty good to eat.

[@davidniemi6553]

Thank you for the thorough review. I've been growing a mix of bush beans (early in the season) with Kentucky Wonder that like to climb up to the balcony above my original garden (but refuse to really get going until the hottest weather). Good to see some alternatives to try out.

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome, David! Yep, there are definitely several worth trying in this group.

[@BrianJMader54476]

I like the Rattlesnake pole beans been growing them in WIsconsin for awhile

[@MidwestGardener]

It's good to hear that they worked well for you too. I'm thinking that I might grow them again this year.

[@terryt.1643]

Liked this review, I usually grow bush beans in my raised beds, but had some success with Scarlet Runner beans along the fence this year so I’m going to try the Monte Gusto and CherokeeToT along the fences next year. They may not do as well as full sun but any harvest is better than no harvest.

[@MidwestGardener]

Glad you enjoyed the review! Hope you enjoy growing the Monte Gusto as much as we did!

[@juliemulie1805]

This was the first year I've ever been skunked with beans and cukes. Only harvested a handful of bush beans that were interspaced with cilantro. Thinking about solutions to my growing deer problem this winter. Keeps it interesting.

[@MidwestGardener]

Sure hate to hear that, Julie! My oldest has trouble with deer where he lives too. They finally put a fence around their garden.

[@fordguyfordguy]

Very nice job!!

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks Andrew!

[@joyrocks2511]

Your beans look great! We’re in 8a NE Texas and grow Rattlesnake in the spring and again in the fall. It’s our favorite. We also grow asparagus yardlong beans in succession and they produce well in our hot summers.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks Joy! That is a great point about yardlong beans. They don't seem to even notice the heat.

[@DorothyMartin-xu2dw]

All beans but this my first year growing as well so I'm use to growing flowers gardening as you see

[@MidwestGardener]

Good luck with your first year!

[@Angie-ci1lp]

Very informative!

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks! Glad it was helpful!

[@Sproutupgardening]

Tha k you so much for the video. I've been looking for some pole bean reviews. I've only ever planted bush beans. But I definitely want to give those Seychelles and Cherokee trail of tears a try.

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome, Jenn! Monte Gusto is another favorite or ours that's worth trying.

[@Sproutupgardening]

@@MidwestGardener thank you so much for the tip. I will have to try them out!

[@MidwestGardener]

@@Sproutupgardening You're welcome!

[@georgewashington3555]

thank you !! great info :)

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome!

[@elisadach4887]

Currently, Rattlesnake is my favourite. It's done extremely well for me and they taste great with a good texture.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing your favorite with us, Elisa! That one is a good one!

[@RiazUddin-sk3uw]

Awesome video; very informative as always. I love green beans. I’ve grown some this year (don’t know the variety). I just snack on them fresh. Hope you enjoying the weekend. Cheers!

[@MidwestGardener]

I didn't used to like green beans as a kid, but I think that might have had something to do with all the ones I had to snap for my grandmother :) She used to can lots of them every year. I love them now though. You have a great weekend too!

[@linklesstennessee2078]

Good looking beans there MG

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks a bunch! They tasted pretty good too. It's hard to look at a bunch of beans and not think of being on my grandmother's porch snapping some.

[@tvck3183]

Kacang ini sangat bagus saya suka memakan nya karena cukup lezat 🙋😋

[@MidwestGardener]

I agree. They are delicious.

[@glynmozzie2143]

Different country to you but our favourite is "Cobra". It is reliable and a very heavy cropper. Needs to be planted early in hot climates as does not like a lot of heat.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for the tip on the Cobra not liking the heat, Glyn! I have someseeds, but couldn't find room for them in the main garden this year. If they don't like the heat, they might not be a good fit here.

[@glynmozzie2143]

@@MidwestGardener I live in Cyprus so its hot. We have no winter. I plant out in March with small plants and they stop producing by June. But viable up to then.

[@MidwestGardener]

@@glynmozzie2143 Interesting! That would be hard for me to get used to, but it sounds like you have found the sweet spot on when to plant.

[@rosea830]

Beautiful beans! You're absolutely right about growing seasons and their affect on crops. The Trail of Tears beans I planted got neglected in September, but after the frost I went looking for what I could salvage and picked a few gallons of dry beans. I'll have to give the Monte Gusto a shot next year. Where did you source your seeds for the Monte Gusto beans and the Aji Rico peppers?

[@MidwestGardener]

Wow, a few gallons of dry beans is a pretty good haul! I think I got the Monte Gusto from Johnny seeds....and the Aji Rico, I think I got from Gurneys.

[@rosea830]

@@MidwestGardener Thank you so much! Have a great weekend and Happy Thanksgiving!

[@MidwestGardener]

@@rosea830 You're welcome! You have a great weekend and Happy Thanksgiving too!

[@ejfishes7610]

Hi Jim, great content as always. I’ve only really tried the Kentucky pole bean as I tend to do more bush beans. Quick question where did you get your harvest baskets, I’m in the market for some. Have a good weekend!

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks EJ! Much appreciated! I got those baskets from Goodwill. They usually have a few on hand, and it was hard to beat the price too.

[@jonilikens8184]

I have Monte Carlo pole beans. They seem to be putting out single beans, with no pod! Do all beans grow in pod, or do some not?

[@MidwestGardener]

Honestly, I've never heard of a single bean without a pod. All of the ones I've ever grown come in pods.

[@j.reneewhite915]

My daughter loves for me to make dilly beans for her every year and I used to rely on bush beans. However I became tired of fighting the slugs for the beans. For 2021 I grew lakeside pole bean and Rattlesnake pole bean. I prefer stringless in beans and peas so I'd say that's a criteria I look for. I always look for disease resistant. I want to save my own seed if possible. So my biggest requirement is less common. I eat peas, beans, cherry tomatoes and sometimes corn fresh from the garden. With that said I fell in love with the taste of the young rattlesnake beans (about 5 or 6 inches long). I would eat about a dozen every day. I'm getting better at saving seed. As I watch you tend your garden I realized that my season is about 45 days shorter than your season. So I have to make sure I save bean seed by August.

[@MidwestGardener]

We don't have much trouble with slugs, but I can see how they could be a problem with bush beans. I noticed the smaller Rattlesnake beans were better. It seems like the bean grows a little faster on the Rattlesnake vines. This was a strange year. Most years our first freeze is in October, but this year, we made it into November. I've never tried dilly beans. I might have to try that some time.

[@davidniemi6553]

I'm in zone 7a in a pretty wet climate, and I've found slugs to be a major nuisance when starting beans. I got past it by using small beer traps before and during the emergence of the beans. Once the beans get a foot tall or so, the slugs can't kill them so easily. I've also tried starting beans in cardboard tubes from toilet paper or paper towels (cut down to 4-5") and that can get them sprouted well so you know how many you have; but I think controlling the slugs is the more important strategy.

[@PatC.]

Hi Jim, your videos are always the best. So informative. Have you ever tried my favorites.... Asian Long beans?

[@MidwestGardener]

Thank you Pat! That is very kind of you to say. Yes, we grew some this year along with all the other types. They were on the other end of the garden on a string trellis.

[@julie5654]

Hi Pat. I've grown them but not sure of cooking methods....how do you cook them?

[@jackgreene5663]

In British Isles we favour Cobra top.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing what works works well in your part of the world!

[@stephenmoberg8807]

Trying Kentucky wonder next season

[@MidwestGardener]

Hope it does well for you! I haven't grown Kentucky wonder in about 6 or 7 years or so.

[@mystiquerose620]

Wow...what a beautiful harvest of beans!thanks God!I have a question for you plz...how should I go about using fresh chicken manure for the next gardening season?a friend will be giving us fresh chicken manure and I'm not sure if I should spread it on top of the soil and till it in the spring?how long does it take b4 I can use it in my garden plz?thx

[@MidwestGardener]

I don't really have much experience with using chicken manure, but I don't really feel confident in giving advice on it. The only thing I would say is, don't overdo it.

[@mystiquerose620]

@@MidwestGardener hello😊thank you for your help..have a blessed day!

[@MidwestGardener]

@@mystiquerose620 You're welcome.

[@catfishm.1361]

Coincidence?! Was just ordering some green beans for next year. Trying some Maxibel French bush beans. And wondered if you’ve tried them? 👍🏻

[@MidwestGardener]

Glad you found the video! No, I've never tried that type, but I'm sure there are many good ones that I haven't tried.

[@jonilikens8184]

My first time to grow beans! I’ve got Monte Carlo pole beans, and black eye peas. Hope they do ok. Seem to be, but the Monte Carlo are just showing single bean! Green bean, not in pod! When do I pick them?

[@MidwestGardener]

I've never heard of that. I would wait and see what happens. Maybe you are seeing the blooms. Monte Gusto pole beans will grow pretty long pods, but it takes some time.

[@electraspy]

Thank you so much for this review & enjoy learning about the different varieties. I am growing Rattlesnake & Purple Pole on arched cattle panel trellis at my garden entrance this year. I’m a bit reserved to do this because last year my Kentucky Wonder Pole Beans trellis became overrun (seemingly overnight late season) with spider mites and we just couldn’t recover. Walking under a tunnel of spider mites this season would be awful. Any advise for spider mites or did you have any pests interested in your beans?? I find sometimes a pest of one season isn’t necessarily a pest in the next, so Im hoping. Had flea beetles cause awful destruction one season & worried about it the next season , but not a one.

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome! You are right about pests being bad one season and not the next sometimes. I've found that water stressed plants fall victim to spider mites more than well hydrated and healthy ones. That is whey we usually see them here when it is extra hot and dry. Insecticidal soaps and horticultural oils can be effective for them. I like limit my use of insecticides until I'm sure that the mites are out of control though. The reason for that is that spider mites have natural predators that are also killed by use of insecticides. Good luck with the upcoming season!

[@ulrichtjinliepshie20]

Scarlet runner beans

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks. I'm really going to have to try those some day.

[@blasermann1994]

Did you do a video on buch beens? I'm looking for something new to try. I never grew pole beans before. I'm planning on planting beans after I harvest my garlic. Would you recommend Bush over pole in that situation?

[@MidwestGardener]

I didn't do a video on bush beans. I prefer pole beans over bush beans for two reasons. Bush beans take up more ground space, which I'm limited on. Second, my old back appreciates not having to bend over to pick pole beans. I would plant whichever you prefer as long as the days to harvest fits the time you have to grow them.

[@stevegerber169]

How do you protect your pole beans from the Mexican bean beetles? The long harvest window of pole beans is appealing but when I've grown them they always become a horrible bean beetle habitat. The bean Beetles don't seem to bother my asian long beans but the texture of those isn't the same as a regular snap bean.

[@MidwestGardener]

Interesting. I've never had trouble with them. If I did, I might feel differently about growing them.

[@stevegerber169]

@@MidwestGardener Wow, you are very fortunate! Mexican bean beetles are a huge plague here in Virginia. The adults look similar to ladybugs but more coppery rather than bright red and the larvae are yellow with black spines. They can quickly defoliate bean plants if left unchecked. Sometimes they even gnaw on the beans! 😡 A physical barrier of insect screen of some type works well on bush beans but isn't very practical on pole beans.

[@MidwestGardener]

@@stevegerber169 Thanks for the info, Steve! I'll keep my eye out for them. We have enough annoying bugs here already without one more. I had to finally stop growing zucchini because of squash vine borers.

[@stevegerber169]

@@MidwestGardener Have you tried zucchino rampicante (aka, trombone squash, tromboncino)? I have completely switched to only growing those as they seem to be unbothered by the squash vine borers. Other gardeners have experienced this too. It is a different species (Cucurbita moschata) than regular zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) so I guess it is somehow less appealing to the borers. Another aspect of zucchino rampicante that I like is that it has a long seedless neck of firm flesh whereas regular zucchini can get rather seedy especially if they get a little big. You can eat them green the same as zucchini or let extras ripen until frost and they will become like butternut winter squash. I still have a bunch in good condition in my basement. It does make a very long vine so a big trellis is best or a fence to clamber along.

[@MidwestGardener]

@@stevegerber169 Thanks for the tips! Yes, I've experimented with a few moschata types because of their resistance to vine borers.

[@7upToday]

Your videos are very informative and enjoyable to see your success in your garden. Thank you for sharing your expertise. Maybe you would not mind sharing what type of commercial fertilizer, if any you use in your garden for your tomatoes and also for your green beans, knowing that green beans make their own nitrogen what are the number analysis for the nitrogen fast sporus and potash, for instance 6-12-12, for green beans, maybe? And the success with your tomatoes does it come with maybe 13-13-13 for the analysis or do you use a time release commercial fertilizer? F you use snow for Glazer in the commercial ram would you please share if you make your own compost or refer us to a link to a previous video that explains you're Sol what brings you to such great success it would be a great help to many. Thank you kindly and May God continue to bless you and your garden.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thank you for the very kind words! I use lots of homemade compost. I don't use a lot of fertilizer, but when I do, I don't make it too complicated. At planting time, I sometimes use 10-10-10 granular type. I think the soil itself is more important than the fertilizer. I try my best to work on my soil every year by adding a few wood chips. I haven't done much in the way of videos on soil and fertilizer. I did do a video on using wood chips. Here it is if you want to take a look: kzbin.info/www/bejne/opfad4SBaLWeadk

[@7upToday]

@@MidwestGardener Yes, Thank U, Kindly.

[@MidwestGardener]

@@7upToday You're welcome!

[@pathoward5721]

Romano bush bean

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing your favorite!

[@thanhavictus]

Hold on Why the fuck is one of them called Cherokee trail of tears

[@MidwestGardener]

It is said that this type of bean was carried by the Cherokee tribe with them on the trail of tears. The survivors planted them when the arrived at their destination.