Blue Lake S-7

Family: Fabaceae Vegetable

Cool, crisp pods—true Blue Lake S-7—unfurl with a velvety, medium-thick snap and a rich blue-green cast that holds its beauty from garden to basket.

Tender, stringless beans deliver a clean, sweet flavor that shines in fresh servings and becomes especially satisfying when roasted or quickly sautéed, with plenty of body for sauces and light pickling. For gardeners, this dependable pole bean brings steady harvests in about 55 days, rewarding every climb with uniform, market-ready pods.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 55 DaysHabit: Vine

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 19th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	55
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Vine
Support Needed	Trellis
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	55
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Built like a working green—tender and stringless with a crisp, velvety snap that stays intact in a hot pan. Use it for fast cook times or high-heat roasting so you get blistered edges without turning it dull or watery.

Best Uses

hot sauté with garlic and lemon zest for crisp-tender pods
roasting on high heat until edges blister and char spots appear
tossing into butter sauces that cling (especially when still bright green)
quick pickling or vinegar brining for a snappy, tangy bite

Flavor Profile

clean sweet snap tender, stringless bean flesh slightly vegetal, green-bean brightness roast-friendly, lightly caramelized edges

Kitchen Pairings

garlic lemon butter toasted almonds parmesan olive oil

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I manage powdery mildew on Blue Lake S-7 bush beans?

Powdery mildew shows up as a white, dusty coating on leaf surfaces, usually starting mid-summer when plants are dense. Improve airflow by spacing plants and removing the worst affected leaves; avoid overhead watering so foliage stays dry. If it keeps spreading, spray with a labeled potassium bicarbonate or sulfur product and repeat as directed on the label.

How often should I water Blue Lake S-7 bush beans during the 40–55 day main growth phase?

Keep soil evenly moist from when seedlings emerge until pods begin filling, watering about 1 inch per week total (split into 1–2 waterings depending on heat and your soil). Let the top 1 inch of soil dry slightly between waterings, but don’t let the roots fully dry out—dry spells reduce pod set. Water at the base of plants to prevent wet leaves that encourage mildew.

How can I tell when Blue Lake S-7 is ready to harvest?

Harvest when pods are bright green, firm, and about 4–6 inches long, with seeds still small and not bulging. Start checking at roughly 55 days from sowing and pick every 1–2 days once production begins to keep plants producing. If you can feel large, swollen bumps inside the pod, it’s past peak tenderness—pick sooner next time.