Blue Lake 47

Family: Fabaceae Vegetable

First comes the crisp, cool snap—Blue Lake 47 bush beans deliver tender, stringless pods with a vivid, classic blue-green sheen.

At maturity the slender, straight pods hold their fine texture and stay pleasantly sweet, making them a standout for fresh picking and quick roasting, as well as vibrant sides and pickling. Gardeners love their dependable 47-day timing and uniform harvest that keeps the basket full.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 47 DaysHabit: Bush

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Direct Sow
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 25th
Harvest Begins	Jun 11th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	47
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Bush
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	60
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Blue Lake 47 is a classic snappy snap bean—tender enough to eat through, but sturdy enough to roast without turning dull or starchy. Because it stays sweet and stringless, it loves heat and acid: blister it fast, then finish with lemon or a quick pickle-style tang.

Best Uses

quick sauté with garlic and butter to keep the snap
high-heat sheet-pan roasting until lightly blistered
short-blanch and toss in lemon vinaigrette for a crisp side
quick pickles for a tangy, crunchy bite

Flavor Profile

sweet, green-bean snap tender, stringless chew cool herbaceous flavor

Kitchen Pairings

garlic lemon butter almonds balsamic vinegar

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Blue Lake 47 green bean leaves turning yellow with spots, and how do I fix it?

Yellowing with brown/gray spots in beans is often rust or foliar disease favored by wet foliage. Water at the base and avoid overhead watering, then remove badly spotted leaves and discard them; for ongoing control, spray a labeled copper fungicide according to package directions when you first see spots. Improve airflow by thinning plants so leaves dry quickly after sunrise.

How often should I water Blue Lake 47 during the main growing phase to keep pods forming?

During flowering and pod fill, keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy—about 1 inch of water per week total, adjusted for rainfall and heat. Water deeply 1–2 times per week (more often in hot, windy weather) so the top 2–3 inches of soil stay evenly moist. If leaves start to look limp or pods pause in growth, increase watering frequency rather than giving a small daily amount.

When are Blue Lake 47 pods ready to harvest, and how can I tell the right stage?

Harvest start around day ~47, but check earlier: pick when pods are bright green, about 5–6 inches long, and still tender enough to snap easily. If you can feel large bulging seeds inside, the pods are passing peak and will be tougher. Pick every 1–2 days once they start producing to encourage steady flowering and more pods.