These resources are brought to you by the Cooperative Extension System and your Local Institution
Welcome
eXtension is an interactive learning environment delivering the best, most researched knowledge from the smartest land-grant university minds across America.
Have a question? Try asking one of our Experts
I planted Kentucky pole beans this spring, and I am not certain how to harvest them. Do I leave the bean on the vine until it dries and then pick and shell? Can I pick the bean similar to a bush bean and cook without shelling?
Last Updated: May 15, 2008
You probably planted either Kentucky Blue or Kentucky Wonder pole beans. These two varieties are used primarily to cook as green beans without shelling. The Kentucky Blue pod reaches 7 inches in length and the Wonder pod is 9 inches long when ready for harvest.
Harvest the pods when they are firm, crisp, and fully elongated but before the seed inside has developed (before it bulges out the side of the pod). Pick when the beans are dry to avoid spreading disease.
If some of the pods grow to the point where the seeds inside are fully developed, let those pods remain on the vine until dried. Then harvest and shell them to make baked beans.
Have a specific question? Try asking one of our Experts
Unlike most other resources on the web, we have experts from Universities around the country ready to answer your questions.
