Bush Blue Lake 274
Phaseolus vulgaris 'Bush Blue Lake 274'
The compact bush version of the legendary Blue Lake pole bean, delivering the same exceptional flavor and tender texture in a space-saving package. These dark green, stringless pods are incredibly productive and perfect for gardeners who want premium quality without the hassle of trellising. A reliable performer that consistently ranks among the top choices for fresh eating and freezing.
Harvest
50-55d
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun
Zones
2–11
USDA hardiness
Difficulty
Easy
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Bush Blue Lake 274 in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 bean →Zone Map
Click a state to update dates
Bush Blue Lake 274 · Zones 2–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | — | July – August | September – August |
| Zone 2 | — | — | June – August | September – September |
| Zone 11 | — | — | January – March | April – May |
| Zone 12 | — | — | January – March | April – May |
| Zone 13 | — | — | January – March | April – May |
| Zone 3 | — | — | June – July | August – October |
| Zone 4 | — | — | June – July | August – October |
| Zone 5 | — | — | May – June | August – September |
| Zone 6 | — | — | May – June | July – September |
| Zone 7 | — | — | April – June | July – August |
| Zone 8 | — | — | April – May | June – August |
| Zone 9 | — | — | March – April | May – July |
| Zone 10 | — | — | February – April | May – June |
Succession Planting
Direct sow every 10–14 days from April 1 through June 15 in zone 7. Bush Blue Lake 274 finishes at 50–55 days, so a June 15 sowing will wrap up before August heat peaks. Bean flowers drop without setting pods when daytime temperatures hold above 90°F, and germination gets unreliable once soil tops 95°F, so watch the forecast before putting in a late round. UGA Extension's vegetable calendar calls out May as a good window for a third bean planting — if you want a steady supply through July and into August, three successions spaced two weeks apart is a reasonable target.
Complete Growing Guide
Bush Blue Lake 274 is best direct sown into the garden rather than started indoors, as bean seeds are prone to rot when overhandled and the seedlings transplant poorly. Wait until soil temperatures reach at least 60°F and all danger of frost has passed—typically one to two weeks after your region's last spring frost date. In cooler climates, warming the soil with black plastic mulch for a week before planting can improve germination rates significantly. Sow seeds one inch deep and two to three inches apart in rows spaced eighteen inches apart. This spacing is crucial for Bush Blue Lake 274; while the compact growth habit makes it more space-efficient than pole varieties, adequate air circulation prevents moisture-related diseases that plague overcrowded plantings.
Prepare beds with well-draining soil enriched with compost or aged manure, aiming for a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Beans are nitrogen-fixing plants, so avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization, which promotes leafy growth at the expense of pod production. A balanced fertilizer or one slightly higher in phosphorus and potassium applied at flowering time supports heavy pod set without overstimulating vegetative growth.
Water consistently at one inch per week, keeping soil evenly moist but never waterlogged. Inconsistent watering causes pod abortion and increases susceptibility to fungal diseases. Apply water at soil level rather than overhead to reduce leaf wetness, which creates conditions favoring bacterial blight and anthracnose—both serious threats to Bush Blue Lake 274. These diseases overwinter in plant debris, so practice crop rotation and remove infected plants immediately.
Bean beetles and aphids are particularly damaging on this variety because dense foliage can hide pest populations until populations explode. Scout plants twice weekly, removing beetle clusters and egg masses by hand. Early detection prevents severe defoliation that weakens the plant. Spider mites thrive in hot, dry conditions; maintaining consistent moisture and misting foliage during heat waves discourages infestations. Cutworms claim seedlings at soil level; protect young plants with cardboard collars.
Bush Blue Lake 274 produces most of its pod load within a narrow window rather than continuously throughout the season. Succession planting every two to three weeks ensures a steady harvest rather than one overwhelming glut. Make successive sowings until eight weeks before your first expected fall frost.
The critical mistake many gardeners make with this variety is assuming the bush habit means it needs no support whatsoever. While Bush Blue Lake 274 doesn't require trellising, the heavy pod load causes stems to lodge and pods to rest on soil, inviting rot and pest damage. Install short stakes or tomato cages around plants for structural support, keeping developing pods elevated and improving air circulation around the plant base.
Harvesting
Harvest Bush Blue Lake 274 pods when they reach 5-6 inches long with a dark green color and slight firmness to the touch, before they become bulky or the seeds inside begin visibly swelling. Unlike pole varieties that produce continuously over weeks, bush beans typically flower and set pods in concentrated flushes, so plan for a more concentrated harvest period of 2-3 weeks rather than ongoing picking. To maximize yield, harvest every 2-3 days at peak tenderness rather than waiting for a single large picking, as regular removal encourages the plant to continue producing new flowers instead of maturing seeds. This variety reaches full productivity around day 55, so begin scouting for harvestable pods by day 50 to catch them at their sweetest and most tender stage.
The boat-shaped seed pods are bilaterally symmetrical and can be green, yellow, white, or purple at maturity. There is a wide variety of color and shape choices among cultivars.
Color: Gold/Yellow, Green, Purple/Lavender, White. Type: Legume. Length: > 3 inches. Width: < 1 inch.
Garden value: Edible, Good Dried
Harvest time: Fall, Summer
Storage & Preservation
Fresh Bush Blue Lake 274 pods store best in the refrigerator crisper drawer for 5-7 days in a perforated plastic bag to maintain humidity while allowing air circulation. Don't wash pods until ready to use, as excess moisture promotes decay.
For freezing, blanch whole pods in boiling water for 3 minutes, then plunge into ice water. Drain thoroughly and pack into freezer bags – properly blanched beans maintain quality for 8-10 months. This variety also cans exceptionally well using pressure canning methods, maintaining its tender texture and sweet flavor. The compact pods are perfect for pickle making, either as dilly beans or pickled with spices. Dehydrating is less ideal for this variety as it loses much of its appealing texture.
History & Origin
Bush Blue Lake 274 emerged as a determinate bush cultivar derived from the heirloom Blue Lake pole bean lineage, which gained prominence in American gardens during the mid-20th century. While specific breeder attribution and introduction year for the '274' designation remain largely undocumented in readily available sources, this variety represents the broader horticultural trend of converting vining bean varieties into compact bush forms through selective breeding. The development aligns with post-World War II agricultural innovation, when seed companies prioritized space-efficient vegetable varieties for home gardeners. Bush Blue Lake 274 retains the parent variety's prized characteristics—stringless pods and superior flavor—while eliminating the trellis requirement, making it a practical adaptation rather than a fundamentally novel creation.
Origin: Tropical America
Advantages
- +No trellising needed, making it ideal for small spaces and containers
- +Exceptional flavor rivals the original Blue Lake pole bean variety
- +Produces stringless, tender dark green pods perfect for freezing
- +Ready to harvest in just 50-55 days with consistent yields
- +Easy to grow, making it excellent for beginning gardeners
Considerations
- -Susceptible to bacterial blight and anthracnose in humid conditions
- -Vulnerable to bean beetle infestations that can decimate crops quickly
- -Requires well-draining soil and struggles in waterlogged garden areas
- -White mold develops easily in cool, wet weather during growth
Companion Plants
French marigolds (Tagetes patula) are worth planting on the border — their scent confuses Mexican bean beetles and the flowers pull in predatory wasps that work through aphid colonies. Corn and summer squash fit into a Three Sisters layout where beans fix nitrogen at 4–6 inches depth and squash leaves shade out weeds without crowding the bean roots. A short row of radishes 12 inches away works as a trap crop for aphids — let them load up on it, then pull the whole row. Keep onions and garlic clear of this bed; allium root exudates suppress the Rhizobium bacteria that bush beans rely on to fix nitrogen, which defeats one of the main reasons to grow legumes in rotation.
Plant Together
Marigold
Repels bean beetles, aphids, and nematodes while attracting beneficial insects
Basil
Repels aphids, spider mites, and thrips that commonly attack beans
Corn
Provides natural support structure for beans while beans fix nitrogen for corn
Summer Squash
Large leaves provide ground cover, retain moisture, and suppress weeds around bean plants
Carrots
Deep taproot breaks up soil for bean roots and doesn't compete for nutrients
Nasturtium
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, protecting beans
Radish
Quick-growing companion that loosens soil and is harvested before beans need space
Catnip
Repels flea beetles and ants that can damage bean plants
Keep Apart
Onions
Stunts bean growth and reduces yield through root secretions
Garlic
Inhibits bean growth and nitrogen fixation through allelopathic compounds
Sunflower
Competes heavily for nutrients and water, may release growth-inhibiting chemicals
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2346400)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good resistance to common bean mosaic virus and bacterial blight
Common Pests
Bean beetles, aphids, spider mites, cutworms
Diseases
Bacterial blight, anthracnose, rust, white mold
Troubleshooting Bush Blue Lake 274
What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.
Leaves with ragged chunks missing, sometimes skeletonized, on plants around 7 weeks old
Likely Causes
- Mexican bean beetle (Epilachna varivestis) — larvae and adults both feed on leaf tissue from the underside
- Bean leaf beetle (Cerotoma trifurcata) — chews irregular holes through the leaf blade
What to Do
- 1.Flip leaves and look for yellow egg clusters or soft yellow larvae; crush them by hand if populations are small
- 2.Spray spinosad or pyrethrin in the evening to reduce impact on pollinators; repeat every 7 days if feeding continues
- 3.Rotate this bed out of beans for at least 2 seasons — adult beetles overwinter near the previous year's plot and will find the new planting fast if it's in the same spot
Water-soaked or brown lesions on pods and leaves, sometimes with a brick-red margin, appearing after wet weather
Likely Causes
- Anthracnose (Colletotrichum lindemuthianum) — spreads in cool, wet conditions and can carry over on saved seed
- Bacterial blight (Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola) — enters through stomata during humid periods
What to Do
- 1.Pull and bag affected plants immediately — do not compost them
- 2.Stay out of the bed when foliage is wet; both pathogens spread readily on hands and tools
- 3.Start next season with certified disease-free seed; if this bed has had anthracnose for multiple years running, move beans to a spot that hasn't grown them in at least 3 years
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Bush Blue Lake 274 take to grow from seed?▼
Can you grow Bush Blue Lake 274 in containers?▼
Is Bush Blue Lake 274 good for beginners?▼
What does Bush Blue Lake 274 taste like compared to store-bought green beans?▼
When should I plant Bush Blue Lake 274 seeds?▼
Bush Blue Lake 274 vs pole Blue Lake – what's the difference?▼
Growing Guides from Wind River Greens
Where to Buy Seeds
Sources & References
External authority sources used in compiling this guide.
See the Methodology page for how this data is sourced, what's AI-assisted, and known limitations.