How to Grow Kentucky Wonder Pole Beans

Kentucky Wonder pole beans are popular for their taste, productivity and hardiness. These beans grow well in warm weather and are planted after frost danger has passed, according to Ohio State University Extension. Kentucky Wonder beans plants are harvestable at 65 days of growth and produce clusters of 9-inch pods. Regular harvesting encourages the growth of bean pods. Bean plants are susceptible to illnesses like bean mosaic disease and bacterial bean blight. Following recommended growing practices ensures the best health for Kentucky Wonder pole beans.

Things You'll Need

• Coarse compost, or other fibrous matter
• Ground limestone
• Trellis or poles

Instructions

1. Prepare the soil. Beans grow well in different types of soil as long as they have good drainage, according to Ohio State University Extension. Mix fibrous matter, like coarse compost, into soils with poor drainage.

2. Test the pH of the soil. Beans grow well in soils that are slightly acidic, in the range of pH 5.8 to 6.3. Add ground limestone to the soil if it is too acidic.

3. Plant the beans 1½ inches deep in sandy soils and 1 inch deep in heavy soil.

4. Space the bean seeds 6 to 10 inches apart, if you are using a trellis. Plant two bean seeds per pole if you are using a pole as support.

5. Water the beans. Provide 1 inch to 1.5 inches of water each week. Pole beans suffer during dry spells and produce tough, woody pods if they are not adequately watered, according to North Carolina University.

6. Install a trellis or poles along the Kentucky Wonder seedlings. Attach the bean plant to the trellis or pole with bailing twine.

7. Harvest the bean pods when they are crisp and approximately 9 inches long. Pick the pods after dew has dried from the plant to avoid spreading bacterial blight. Care must be taken when removing the pods because the stems and branches of Kentucky Wonder bean plants are fragile.

Tips & Warnings

• Use the harvested pods immediately or store them in a refrigerator to preserve freshness.

• Use mosaic-resistant bean seeds to prevent bean mosaic disease.

• Prevent bacterial bean blight by using certified disease-free seed and removing all fallen debris from the bean plants.

• Rotate the location of the Kentucky Wonder beans each year to reduce the spread of disease.

• Beans should not be overwatered because of their tendency to germinate poorly in overly damp conditions, according to the University of Illinois Extension. Do not soak the newly sown beans if the soil is already wet.

References

• Ohio State University Extension: Growing Peas and snap Beans in the Home Garden
• North Carolina State University: Pole Bean Production
• University of Illinois Extension: Beans