Growing Pole Snap Beans

A 6.0 pH soil and full sun makes them happy.

Pole beans thrive when nights are cool but they will not tolerate even light frost. You can start planting pole beans in the Middle Georgia area about April 1. Plantings can be continued through the season until about August 15.

Pole snap beans require overhead support, to hold the vines erect while they grow. Pole beans grow best in full sun and the soil should be well drained with a pH above 6.0.

Pole beans are classified as medium in their fertility requirements. General fertilizer recommendations would be to broadcast 30 pounds of 6-12-12 per 1000 square feet. Another recommendation is to use 8 pounds of 6-12-12 per 100 foot of row, placing the fertilizer 4 inches to the side of the seed. Pole beans will usually require some additional nitrogen about the time the first bean pods can be seen. At this time side dress with ammonium nitrate, using 2 pounds per 100 foot of row. Place this at least 3 inches from the base of the plant, being careful to keep it off of the bean leaf.

Pole bean varieties recommended for Georgia are Kentucky Wonder 191, Blue Lake, McCaslan and Dade. The Kentucky Wonder 191 produces a fairly long bean that is slightly rough and fairly thick and wide. It has good keeping quality after harvest and is grown to be used fresh, frozen or canned. This variety is available in a green pod color or a yellow pod color.

Stringless Blue Lake is noted for its low fiber content and the absence of a "string". This variety produces pods that are round in shape and somewhat shorter than Kentucky Wonder. This variety produces pods that make excellent "French" style beans.

The varieties McCaslan and Dade both produce flat, dark green colored pod that are usually 7 to 8 inches long and are not stringless like the Blue Lake variety.

Seeding rates will vary, according to the trellis system used. It will require about 1¦2 pound of seeds to plant 100 foot of row if placed in hills 18 inches apart. If beans are to be tied to an overhead trellis then closer spacing in the row is desired and more seeds will be required. For an overhead trellis, space seed 3 inches apart in the row. If a pole trellis is to be used, plant 3 to 4 seeds in each hill and space hills 2 feet apart.

Overhead trellis systems should be 5 to 6 feet above the ground. If posts and wire are used, space posts 20 feet apart in the row and stretch a strong wire between posts. Twine can then be tied loosely around the base of the bean plant and the other end tied to the overhead wire. If poles are used as a trellis, take two poles from each of two rows, pull them together and tie at the top "tepee" style.

Keep pole beans irrigated during dry weather.

A mulch placed around the base of the plants will help retain soil moisture and will also suppress weed growth.

Harvest beans carefully to reduce bean damage. Pole beans are usually harvested soon after the seeds begin to form in the pod. Hold the vine with one hand, while the bean pods are pulled off with the other hand.

Healthy and productive plants yield a total harvest of about 75 pounds of beans per 100 foot or row.

For more information on growing pole snap beans, contact your local county Extension office.