Pole beans, such as kidney and butter or lima beans, produce long vines that do best when supported on some type of trellis. They are prolific growers and can easily cover a trellis in the course of a season while producing many beans which can be eaten fresh or dried.
Latin Name
Phaseolus vulgaris
Family
Fabaceae
Also Known As
Runner bean Snap bean Green bean String bean
Type of Plant
Annuals
Vegetables
Seasons
Summer
Specifications
Max Height: 15'
Max Spread: 3'
Uses
Colors
History
George Washington grew many acres of several varieties of beans, and advocated planting the pole beans with corn for support. In a letter to his farm manager, William Pearce, in May of 1785, he wrote " I have heard much of the white (homony) Bean as being very productive, and a ready sale: suppose you were to devote an Acre of Corn ground to this purpose, to see what the yield would be: or, if they would do without something to run upon, & support them, to plant an acre or two without Corn, in No. 6 at Union farm..."
Other Details
Pollinator
Sold at Mount Vernon
Planted at Mount Vernon
Hardiness Zones
Average annual extreme minimum temperature 1976-2005
Bartlett Tree Expert Company has been working with Mount Vernon Estate since 2011 providing expert arboricultural care and GPS mapping for the estate’s historic trees, as well as support from their research facility. Mount Vernon is proud to partner with Bartlett Tree Experts and appreciates their sponsorship of George Washington’s Mount Vernon Plant Finder App.
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