Bean 'Kentucky wonder'

Rust resistant pole beans, shallow rooted. Mulch after thinning. Avoid working when wet.

Beans are nitrogen fixers, they don’t appreciate excessive nitrogen fertilization.

Pick when nearly mature, beans not fully developed, pods still crisp.

Preserve by freezing and canning

Plant in a location that enjoys full sun and remember to water moderately. Keep in mind when planting that Kentucky wonder is thought of as tender, so remember to wait until your soil is warm and the night time temperature is well above freezing before moving outside. Try to keep the ph of your soil between the range of 6.0 and 6.8 as Kentucky wonder likes to be in weakly acidic soil.

Soaking in water for several hours or overnight will hasten germination.
Treating with bean innoculant is sometimes recommended.

Sow 0.98 inches (2.5 cm) deep with a guideline distance of 3.9 inches (10.0 cm). Soil temperature should be kept higher than 16°C / 61°F to ensure good germination.

By our calculations, you should look at sowing Kentucky wonder about 14 days after your last frost date.

Pole beans should be sown directly when soil has warmed up. Seedlings are delicate and shallow-rooted and do not transplant well.

Sow seeds 1 – 1 1/2 " deep
4" apart, 3’ between rows
Set along 6 ft. high trellis
6-8 days to germinate
Thin to 8" when plants have four leaves
68 days to maturity

Ensure that temperatures are mild and all chance of frost has passed before planting out, as Kentucky wonder is a tender plant.

Mature pods will be 6-8 inches long.

The species name vulgaris is from the Latin vulgus (“the multitude, the masses”) +‎ -āris, and means “common”, “usual”, or “commonly known” ¹.

Old homestead

¹ Wiktionary entry for vulgaris