Kentucky vs. Missouri Wonder Bean

**sanderson** 10/10/2014, 1:53 am

I had a package of Kentucky Wonder. When we were at Baker Creek in Missouri this summer, I asked for a green bean that could survive hot summers. The man suggested Missouri Wonder. I planted them side by side, same prep in each square, made one of Camp's trellises. The Kentucky are on the left, the Missouri on the right. You can really see a difference in the leaves though both are flowering and fruiting.
Kentucky vs. Missouri Wonder Bean Bean_k10

Kentucky vs. Missouri Wonder Bean Bean_k10

Kentucky vs. Missouri Wonder Bean Bean_k11

Perhaps the MO Wonder out-produces/survives better than the KY Wonder when subjected to the more humid hot summers than I get. Mine are desert like, hot and dry. Right now, it's delightful outside. I can't believe how healthy the KY look, despite my lack of gardening skills!

audrey.jeanne.roberts 10/10/2014, 8:40 pm

I've tried several varieties and nothing has out performed Kentucky wonder. I'm out of them, so I'll order for next spring.

**sanderson** 10/11/2014, 2:02 am

Mine are Ferry Morse. Embarassed

GloriaG 10/11/2014, 9:42 pm

Have you tried Blue Lake Pole beans?

My family isn't fond of the flat shape of the Kentucky Wonders. So I've tried several other varieties. We found that even though Blue Lake isn't quite as vigorous as Kentucky Wonder, it produces almost as well and has nice long round beans similar to the Blue Lake bush beans.

**sanderson** 10/12/2014, 12:31 am

Gloria, no I haven't. Thank you for suggesting.

audrey.jeanne.roberts 10/12/2014, 12:37 am

GloriaG wrote:Have you tried Blue Lake Pole beans?

My family isn't fond of the flat shape of the Kentucky Wonders. So I've tried several other varieties. We found that even though Blue Lake isn't quite as vigorous as Kentucky Wonder, it produces almost as well and has nice long round beans similar to the Blue Lake bush beans.

Gloria, thank you for the reminder. I had forgotten about Blue Lake. I grew them the first year I gardened and like them quite a bit as well.

I need to compile a list for my winter seed order before I forget, LOL!

**sanderson** 10/12/2014, 12:51 am

Not List Time, again! What a Face

GloriaG 10/13/2014, 12:56 am

Just to see what would happen, I planted a fall crop of Blue Lake this year.

They went in a little later than I really wanted, but they're already half way up my poles. And it looks like I've got flowers coming. So now I know if I start them a bit earlier, I should be able to have a good fall crop too. Very Happy

**sanderson** 10/13/2014, 1:04 am

I've got to remember to take close-ups of the beans on the 2 wonders. How different, weird.

**sanderson** 10/13/2014, 12:32 pm

KT Wonder:
Kentucky vs. Missouri Wonder Bean Bean_k12

MO Wonder:
Kentucky vs. Missouri Wonder Bean Bean_m10

CapeCoddess 10/13/2014, 12:47 pm

I use KY Wonder pole also and see no reason to switch. This year I did try a bean I saved from a friends garden. I didn't get the name and I won't because the flavor didn't come close to KYW wasn't even as good as the Blue Lake and Contenter bush beans I grew.

I did grow some flat Italian stringless ones last year that I loved but a coworker gave them to me and all she says when I ask they name is that they are magic Chinese beans. Wink

In other words, she has no idea. I saved some but they didn't grow.

Bottom line, if it ain't broke why fix it.
What a Face

CC

**Turan** 10/13/2014, 1:22 pm

Sanderson, your pictures look like my Blue Lake pole beans as well. The Romanos I once grew were much broader and flatter.
Next year I plan to try a purple podded pole bean. Purple beans always seem the fastest to sprout and get moving for me. They are supposed to have good cold soil emergence.

**sanderson** 10/13/2014, 1:52 pm

Turan, they work well in your area? As much as I thought they were neat looking, DH and I weren't impressed with the flavor. Our summers are killers and the spider mites did a number on them. After treatment, they started to recover and produce. Still, the flavor wasn't there.

**Turan** 10/13/2014, 2:13 pm

No beans seem to do well in my area, actually. So I will sacrifice for cold soil tolerance and earliness. I love the flavor of all the snap beans I have tried except the yellows, they were too blah and as it happens do the worst here.

When I was in Escondido I noticed that the beans took the hottest part of the summer off to feed spider mites etc. Then they perked up and produced again in the fall. I hope that is happening for you! There I grew (beating memory banks to download commencing Laughing

) yard long beans, KW, Romano.

CapeCoddess 10/13/2014, 3:10 pm

I love the yard long beans and did very well with them in a pot on my deck back in the day. Thanks for the reminder. Forgot about those and will try them again.

CC

Marc Iverson 10/13/2014, 4:27 pm

Maybe my memory isn't correct here, but I seem to have read somewhere that when beans get curled like that, it's because of uneven water uptake or irregular watering. If so, I wonder if that could be the problem with your beans, sanderson -- maybe the Missouri ones are more sensitive to that, or needed more water because they were in more direct sun or in the sun more hours per day or something?

**sanderson** 10/13/2014, 7:35 pm

Turan wrote:

When I was in Escondido I noticed that the beans took the hottest part of the summer off to feed spider mites etc. Then they perked up and produced again in the fall. I hope that is happening for you! There I grew (beating memory banks to download commencing ) yard long beans, KW, Romano.

Thanks, Turan. rofl

momvet 6/2/2015, 10:24 pm

I planted 3 types of beans in my first SFG - the bush beans (Blue Lake and Royal Burgundy) are in the beds and look fantastic. I planted Kentucky Wonder Pole beans in a 18" x 12" planter filled with MM (6 inch deep). I planted 3 seeds along the back of the planter and put a little lobelia in the front. The beans started out well, but they have become progressively paler and more yellow and the lower leaves are crisping to brown. They are in full sun and the soil is moist. It did rain a bit but not enough to over-water them. They look nothing like the lush, dark green plants I am seeing in the pics here (can't post a pic right now; out of town). Any suggestions? I love green beans but haven't tried growing them in years and I was hoping for the continued harvest of the pole beans!

**donnainzone5** 6/2/2015, 10:48 pm

Kathy,

Do your planters have adequate drainage?

I've lost a number of bulbs and plants because of this issue.

I'd suggest checking the bottom. If there are only a couple of drainage holes, I'd drill quite a few more. (You might have to turn the entire planter over, tipping out the MM and bean plants, then replace them.)

You might also add a bit of gravel or river rock to the bottom of the planter.

Hope this helps!

**sanderson** 6/2/2015, 11:14 pm

MomVet, When you can, post a photo. And, check the bottom drainage.

Marc Iverson 6/4/2015, 2:40 am

Agree on the drainage thing.

I had huge success and terrible failure with beans last year. They seem quite sensitive to too much sun and/or underwatering before fully grown. So while drainage is important, you do want them to have plenty of water, at least initially.

I hope you like the royal burgundy beans. I expected to be underwhelmed by them last year, but they turned out to be sweet and tender, really vigorous and long-producing, and looked spectacular on the plate.

I also had great luck with Speedy, from Territorial Seeds.

momvet 6/4/2015, 5:52 pm

So when I got home today, I pulled the planter out and checked the drainage (it is one of those self watering things). Not soggy and the soil hasn't been. Hard as it was I pulled them out and replanted. Maybe it wasn't meant to be. I WANT POLE BEANS! Razz

They don't look that bad is this pic but they weren't green and had stopped growing.
Kentucky vs. Missouri Wonder Bean Img_1411

**donnainzone5** 6/4/2015, 6:02 pm

Kathy,

The next things I'd look at are temperature and the quality of the beans you planted there. Did you start them from seed?

How about your Mel's Mix? What did you use? Which composts, and vermiculite or perlite?

I know how you feel about pole beans; I still have a few from last summer in my freezer, and am just planting the last few squares for this year's harvest.

Dunkinjean 6/4/2015, 10:54 pm

I have tried various pole beans and my favorite is Kentucky Wonder.
This year I found Kentucky Wonder Pole Beans that are stringless!
The strings were the only negative so I hope these stringless beans are just as tasty.

This year I am growing Purple bush beans for the 1st time for fun.

Kathy,
I am concerned about your pole beans. It looks as though they didn't get enough water or some disease or bug has affected them. Take a close look at them. One year I had a major problem with my pole beans and looked like yours. The leaves were yellow and I was not able to save them, so I yanked them out. Don't give up. If you have additional seeds maybe pull the sad looking ones out and replant with new seeds.

Good luck!

**sanderson** 6/4/2015, 11:35 pm

Kathy, Any spider mites?

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