Blue Lake Stringless FM2 Pole

Family: Fabaceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Blue Lake Stringless FM2 Pole to a garden.

Cool, crisp pods arrive in a steady ribbon—tender, stringless Blue Lake Green with a clean snap and a sweet, garden-fresh flavor.

Blue Lake Stringless FM2 Pole climbs with vigor to deliver long, slender beans that stay pleasantly crisp for weeks, making them a favorite for fresh use and for quick roasting or steaming. Grow it on a trellis for abundant, reliable harvests starting around 55 days, with plants that keep producing as long as you keep picking.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 55 DaysHabit: Vine

Botanical illustration of Blue Lake Stringless FM2 Pole

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Blue Lake Stringless FM2 Pole Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Direct Sow	Jun 1st	Jul 26th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	May 25th	Jul 19th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 9th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 9th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Jul 13th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 9th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Jul 7th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jul 2nd – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jun 28th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jun 25th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jun 19th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jun 14th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	Jun 4th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	May 26th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	May 17th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	Apr 30th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Apr 5th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th

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)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Blue Lake Stringless stays crisp and string-free, so it behaves well under short heat—no fibrous chew, just a clean snap. Built for fast cooking and bright finishing with acid and fat, it shines in roasts and quick sautés where texture is the whole point.

Best Uses

quick steam or blanch, then shock to lock in snap
high-heat roasting until lightly blistered for nutty edges
toss into sautés with garlic and olive oil for glossy, fast-coating beans
stir into sheet-pan dinners where they need minimal time and maximum crunch

Flavor Profile

sweet, clean snap tender-crisp bite light vegetal beaniness with a fresh, green finish

Kitchen Pairings

garlic lemon olive oil butter parmesan chicken or pork

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Blue Lake Stringless FM2 pole bean leaves developing holes or webbing, and what should I do?

Holes with frass and/or fine webbing on the underside usually indicate bean leaf beetles or spider mites. Remove heavily damaged leaves and spray a blast of water early morning for beetles, then use insecticidal soap for mites, repeating every 5–7 days until no new stippling/webbing appears. Avoid overhead watering to reduce stress that favors mite outbreaks, and keep weeds down around the poles to reduce hiding spots.

How often should I water my pole beans during the main growing phase (weeks 3–7), and what soil moisture target should I maintain?

During active flowering and pod fill, keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy: water about 1 inch per week total, split into 2–3 waterings during hot spells. Check by digging 2–3 inches down—soil should feel like a wrung-out sponge; if it’s dry at that depth, water immediately to prevent flower drop and tough pods. Mulch around the base of the poles to stabilize moisture and reduce hot, dry swings.

When are Blue Lake Stringless FM2 pole beans ready to harvest, and how do I pick the right size?

Harvest when pods are 4–6 inches long, firm, and crisp, typically about 55 days from sowing depending on weather. Pick frequently—every 1–2 days during peak production—while pods are still slender and before the seeds noticeably bulge. If pods look thick or the beans inside start to swell, they’ve passed peak tenderness and will slow further production.