Bush vs Pole beans, experiences and expectations?

[silkiechicken]

I got a few packets of bush beans last year for 20 cents a small one ounce packet. I figured I'd try them... I don't know how much I like them. It was good for this short bad summer as they actually had enough time to be productive. However... the yield felt low to me.

They were deep green and grew lots of flowers for the plant size, but from 60sq feet of 6-8 inch spaced grid planted Kentucky wonder and contender, I got about 25 lbs total and there are no new flowers. Perhaps there is a few lbs left but I am thinking of pulling them in a week and planting it all with bok choi once the sprouts get their first set of true leaves.

What I am comparing this with is last year's 15 foot double row of blue lake pole which yielded 66lbs over 6weeks. It only stopped due to a freeze and wet weather that caused them all to wilt and die. And I thought last year was short and cool.

Granted, I can't complain too much because the bush type was a good fall back since the pole type has only just started to form beans and most were killed off along with the summer squash in the cold stretch of Feb weather in June. I had really hoped there to be more beans this year, but I guess that would be the difference between a determinant (bush) vs nondeterminant (pole) bean. Pole is nice.. I don't have to bend down so much to pick them.

What are others experiences with the pole vs bush types and what do you prefer in your growing area?

Opinions?

 

[nccountrygirl]

Bush beans will only produce once and that is why gardeners recommended planting them though out a 3 weeks time period. Pole beans will keep producing but bush beans will not re flower thus when all of the plants have flowered that is the only beans you will get. They are great for a late summer garden as the maturing rate is low, only about 55 days. I planted mine towards the end of July and they are doing great so far.

 

[silkiechicken]

So do you prefer the bush variety for your demographics over the pole type? Or do you forgo the pole type all together?

 

[theOEGBman]

I personally prefer the Poles, simply because I have a garden built more for them. We have rows in the garden with twine laced throughout them on poles that has been there my whole life, and it still works great. The beans are able to climb it with no trouble. They also grow well on Corn, which is a major plus for me. It leaves me more room for other veggies, and I love that. I've grown bush as well, and like them, but if I can plant them on corn and save space, I'd prefer to do that. Saying that, I do have a row or two of Bush Beans planned in my garden next year, but we'll see if I change that or not. Im doing its pretty much because I'd love to try Purple or Yellow, and Bush in those colors seem easier to find than Pole. I've never really recorded the amount I get off of my poles, so I cant compare, but I have gotten quite a bit this year.

 

[Rosalind]

If you plant the pole beans early enough, while the yard rabbits are still tiny babies in the warren, they can get tall enough such that when the bunnies are big and hungry, the beans are out of reach up on the trellis.

Bush beans, meanwhile, are always within rabbit-reach.

Generally I prefer bush beans as it means less trellis-building and I don't much mind getting all of one crop at once, but I am going to make a change next year and get mainly pole beans.

They'll go nicely with hassenpfeffer.

 

[nccountrygirl]

I perfer the pole beans but planted what I thought were bush beans and quess what, my "BUSH BEANS" have runners starting to grow, I hope there is enough time left for them to make before the first frost hits central NC.

 

[patandchickens]

Disadvantage of pole beans: must somehow provide trellis.

Disadvantages of bush beans: must bend wayyy over to harvest; get lots all at once and then they're done; IMO most have good texture but flavor not as good as the best pole beans

All things considered, I'll take the long-term modest daily harvest of pole beans over the feast-then-famine and bending-over with bush types. IIRC a large part of the push to develop bush types was originally for their commercial value - harvest all at once, and no trellising.

I will also put in a plug for scarlet (and other) runner beans, which may not yeild quite as well but have loverly flowers

Pat

 

[Backyard Buddies]

OK, this is my first year with pole beans and since they're still waiting to produce anything of significance, I can't give a fully informed answer.

Here in So. Cal, we planted bush beans (Green: Contender & Jade, plus a yellow - Golden Rod) and have found a wide variance between the varieties. All were planted back in late April/early May (I'd have to check the actual date). The Contender produced early and is still getting a bean here or there. The Golden Rod produced a lot and quickly, but that was the end of it. But, the Jade is my new favorite bean. It is STILL producing (picked some today) and is the sweetest, most tender bean I've ever tasted. The Kentucky Wonder and the Blue Lake are not even close to the Jade, in my opinion.

That said, my KW pole beans are just now flowering, so I may have to update once I've had a chance to sample those.

 

[curly_kate]

I did bush beans (Jade) because I didn't have to set up a trellis for them. On the package, it says to succession plant them to ensure a harvest all summer. So I did that, but my original rows have continued to produce all summer.

 

[897tgigvib]

I wonder if anyone has grown the White Seeded Kentucky Wonder. I did last year, and they produced great, and they are pertnear greasy.