Kentucky Wonder Pole Bean
It came into being sometime in the 1840s, probably a sport of a landrace pole bean being grown in the deep South. Its virtues--productivity and fine taste--brought it immediate renown, and seed began to circulate. Its original name was Texas Pole Bean. “A long, green, fat podded husky climber with dull brown seeds. It will bear all summer and keep in eating condition longer than any other bean.” [“Wonder Beans in High Repute,” San Diego Union (April 17m 1932), 17.] The 8 inch pods will not set within two feet of the ground, but above that height, twined on fence rails, wires, or poles the pods set prolifically. The vines average 8 feet, but will grow more extensively if well fertilized. In 1875 the Gregory Seed Company sold the variety as "Kentucky Wonder" and that name has prevailed in the commercial market since, though "Old Homestead" and "American Sickle" have local employment in certain regions.
Taste and versatility made it the prevalent gardener's pole bean by the turn of the 20th century. The pods could be eaten as snaps. Half mature pods were used as shell beans. The dried fully mature beans were esteemed as baking beans. The pods were meaty, delicate tasting, but had some toothsome texture. A century after its introduction into general use, the Boston Herald declared it “the best eating bean available” (Alden P. Tuttle, “Kentucky Wonder Bean Considered Superior by Many,” Boston Herald (June 2, 1957), 97.]
Even though the original bean was a sturdy prolific grower, it had some vulnerability to bean rust. Over the years breeders have offered "improvements"--a white seeded rust resistant bean had a heyday--in the 1980s a bush form of the bean premiered--a Kentucky Wonder Yellow Wax bean also launched. But gardeners return to the original brown-seeded heirloom as the favorite. It remains in 2021 a variety available from almost every garden seed company operating in the United States, a proven garden staple with superlative qualities. It can be planted early in the season and may be harvested in 70 days. It has been grown as a crop bean in Florida and is cultivated in Maine.
Much ingenuity has been expended on how to improve the support systems for these beans, from the old wigwam of 8 foot bamboo canes to string trellises. Youtube has an amusing variety of back yard innovator videos, including an odd genre of survivalist videos showing pole bean rigs that will keep one viable in the end times. I confess I am more concerned about a support that will last until harvest time.