Wax Bean
Golden Butterwax Bean is a bush variety that has delighted gardeners since D.M. Ferry introduced it in 1876. These compact plants, standing just 16 to 18 inches tall, produce abundant 5-inch-long bright yellow pods that mature in just 50 to 55 days. Prized for both its superior flavor and impressive yields, this heirloom has earned generations of praise for its natural disease resistance and reliability. The sturdy, upright growth habit makes it equally suited to home gardens and those planning to preserve their harvest through canning and freezing.
6 inches apart in rows spaced 18-24 inches
Full Sun
Moderate
3-10
?in H x ?in W
Annual
Moderate
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What sets Golden Butterwax Bean apart is its combination of old-world reliability and practical modern gardening appeal. The plants stay compact and tidy, producing oodles of golden pods with remarkable consistency, a trait that makes it equally satisfying for the gardener seeking abundant fresh pickings and for those preserving food for winter. Its reputation for superior flavor and natural disease resistance means you're not just growing beans; you're growing a variety that has proven itself worthy of preservation across more than 140 years of seed-saving tradition.
Golden Butterwax Bean excels in the kitchen as a tender fresh vegetable, best enjoyed when the pods are young and the beans still tender inside. Its particular strength lies in preservation, the source catalog specifically recommends it for canning and freezing, suggesting that home food preservation has long been part of this variety's purpose. The bright yellow color and reliable texture make it attractive for fresh cooking as well, whether steamed simply, sautéed with garlic, or added to summer vegetable dishes.
Sow seeds directly into the garden after soil has warmed and frost danger has passed. Golden Butterwax Bean will sprout in 7 to 10 days under proper conditions, making it one of the faster beans to germinate. Direct sowing is the preferred method, as beans don't transplant well and prefer to establish roots immediately in their final location.
Pick pods when they reach about 5 inches long and are still bright yellow and tender, this is when flavor and texture are at their peak. Harvest regularly, every 2 to 3 days, to encourage continued production and prevent pods from becoming tough and fibrous. The pods should snap cleanly when bent; if they feel limp or leathery, they're past their prime. Regular harvesting stimulates the plant to keep flowering and setting new pods throughout the season, extending your harvest window considerably.
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“Golden Butterwax Bean carries the mark of one of America's great seed catalogs. D.M. Ferry, a legendary figure in American horticulture, introduced this variety in 1876, placing it firmly in the post-Civil War era when American seed commerce was becoming sophisticated and regionalized. The fact that this bean has survived and remained in cultivation since then speaks to its genuine merit; it was saved and replanted by generations of gardeners who recognized its superiority in flavor, yield, and disease resistance. It represents a moment when careful plant selection and seed breeding were becoming accessible to home gardeners, not just commercial farmers.”