Blue Lake Bush 274

Family: Fabaceae Vegetable

Silky, stringless pods arrive in a steady harvest window with a vivid blue-green glow and a tender snap that feels made for the garden.

Blue Lake Bush 274 delivers classic, sweet-bean flavor and a fine, uniform texture—ideal for roasting, fresh snacking, and quick sautés, as well as vibrant pickling for long-lasting color. Compact plants stay productive around 50 days, making it easy to fill the basket with crisp, market-ready pods.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 50 DaysHabit: Bush

Botanical illustration of Blue Lake Bush 274

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 14th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	50
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Bush
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Blue Lake Bush 274’s stringless, uniform pods are built for speed: high heat or a fast pan keeps that tender-crisp snap instead of turning waxy. It takes bright acids and butter well—think lemon butter or tangy quick-pickle brine—so the bean flavor stays vivid, not muted.

Best Uses

hot quick sauté with garlic and butter (pods stay snappy, not mushy)
roast at high heat to caramelize edges without drying out the center
blanch and shock for snacking or salads—bright green-blue holds well
quick pickles for long-color, tang-forward snacking

Flavor Profile

sweet, grassy snap tender-crisp bite with low fiber mild legume savoriness clean, lightly vegetal finish

Kitchen Pairings

lemon garlic butter olive oil parmesan smoked paprika

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most common disease problem for Blue Lake Bush 274 beans and how do I treat it?

A frequent issue is bean rust/leaf spot, which shows up as small brown to reddish spots on leaves and can spread quickly in warm, humid conditions. Remove and discard infected leaves, improve airflow by spacing plants, and avoid overhead watering so foliage stays dry; if it’s spreading, use a labeled copper-based fungicide according to the package directions.

How often should I water Blue Lake Bush 274 during the main growing phase (from flowering to pod fill)?

Water deeply about 1–2 times per week, keeping the top 1–2 inches of soil consistently moist but not soggy. If you see wilting during the day or the soil dries out quickly, increase frequency slightly; if the soil stays wet and plants look limp or yellow, reduce watering.

How can I tell when Blue Lake Bush 274 is ready to harvest?

Harvest when pods are bright green, slender, and about 4–6 inches long, before the seeds become noticeably bulged. Start picking around 50 days after sowing for peak tenderness, and harvest every 1–2 days because Blue Lake types can get tough fast if left on the plant.