I planted Kentuckies too, but mine are the usual green color. I'll certainly agree on how prolific they are. I like the idea of using tepees which saves room in the garden. I used to plant Contender because they are drought resistant, but they being bush beans took a lot of room. Wish I could help you. You're right, they may have been mislabeled.

I'm going to cook up a batch today and see if I like the taste. If not, I'll be going back to my purple beans. Plus, these Kentucky Wonders mature quickly or else they are good at hiding on the trellis. They're a long bean and already some are too old to eat.

Re: the Blue Lake I mentioned. Sorry, the green pole beans I sometimes plant are just labeled "Pole Beans" at the store - don't know the proper name. Blue Lake are bush beans, pretty sure, at least I haven't found a pole variety yet. Normally I have to send away for the Trionfo Violetto but I had a volunteer plant come up this year, so I'm going to try and save seed.

Blue Lake is an old pole bean of pre 1900- vintage. In recent years several bush cultivars have been introduce. There are also bush versions of the Kentucky Wonder, Bush versions seldom come close to the original pole versions tho.

I don't think my seed store has ever carried the pole version of Blue Lake, thus I didn't think there was one. Thanks for the info. I prefer the climbers of any variety, don't take up as much room (as aulani mentions) and easier to harvest.

There is a Kentucky Wonder Wax - a yellow bean.
I'm growing some this year, but it's been so cold I'll be amazed if I even see a bean flower this year.
Maybe that's what you've got?
I haven't grown the wax before so I don't know how yellow they are, but I've grown the green ones for years and they've always been deep emerald green.

Well, it certainly sounds like that could be the problem. Thanks. I'll let the seed store know that they should label it as such or find out if it was just a mistake.

I see that they start out green when very small and slender, then become a light yellow eventually. Not a deep yellow. I wanted to make some beans, ham and potatoes but that's not going to be as pretty as a pan of green ones is it? Probably taste the same, tho.

Sounds like you might have gotten the wax variety. i've never had those, but the regular Kentucky Wonders have a distinctive (and wonderful) flavor.

I planted Kentucky Wonder beans this year for the first time. The plants stayed small, about 18-24" high and I never saw the beans so figured something was eating them... well... lol... today I looked under the leaves closer to see tons of 6-8" beans! They sort of blended in with the stems I guess! lol. Anyhow... first, how do I know if I waited too long to pick them? They look good, just BIG, 6-8" and about the thickness of a pencil. Ok, and now for my DUMB question, how do I cook them? No fancy recipe, just how do I cook it as a vegtable side dish? :)
THANKS!

Bless you, kroach. This is your lucky day. I hope you picked the beans. If they are the thickness of a pencil, you are just fine. How to cook them?

1. snap them into 1 1/2 inch pieces.
2. put them in a pot with about two inches of water.
3. slice in some onion; add salt and pepper.
4. toss in a couple of slices of bacon or some pieces of ham
5. Let simmer uncovered until the beans are done to your liking. Watch the water, don't let it evaporate, but don't cover them either or you'll lose the pretty green color. Don't boil them to death or you'll get mush and lose all the vitamins.

I've been using those microwave steam bags and they work real well too. That's another way to cook them.

I just know others will have new ways for you too. Good luck!

aulani

I've also read that a small pinch of sugar in the water keeps beans green when cooking them.

Ah, thank you anney. I've never known that. Will try it with my next batch of green beans.

Yes to the suger :) and if you have them, add a few new potatoes to the beans. Delicious.

I had KY wonder bush beans. I love them and don't have to stake or trellis, which I have a problem getting done. They've come and went and I am now on my second planting. They were wonderful eatting this year. I got 45 qts. of them and brown bunch beans canned this year. KY Wonders are hardy too. I planted them along with brown bunch green beans a little to early and it frosted on them, twice. Turned the leaves a little brown on the edges but they bounced right back. They are harder to pick though!

kroach001,

Even easier and I don't think you can get any simpler than this. Cut off the ends of the green beans, then cut them to desired length. Drop into lightly salted boiling water. Cook 5 to 7 minutes or desired tenderness (poke some with a fork to test how tender they are). Note: They'll return to a rolling boil shortly if you're at the right high heat. When served add a little butter and season to taste.

If you've got good home grown green beans this simple method works great and tastes better than any canned or frozen green beans you've ever had.

Good luck.

anney - I've never added sugar to my water and the beans are a real bright green. I wonder why?

Randy

I actually think that if you don't cover the beans while cooking, they keep their green color. I've used the steamer bags in the microwave and like those very much too.

Here's a very interesting link about keeping vegetables green, and other things. Did you know that if you wrap celery in foil it will last longer? I didn't know that.

http://www.recipedelights.com/vegetabletips.htm#4