Scientific Name: Phaseolus vulgaris

AKA: Bush Bean 'Cherokee Wax', Yellow Wax Bean, Yellow Bean, Yellow Butter Bean

Family: Fabaceae (Pea)

Etymology:

Phaseolus: Small Boat; Latin
vulgaris: Common

Origin:

Phaseolus vulgaris is a species originally from and first domesticated in the Andes of South America.

Description:

Bush Bean 'Cherokee Wax' is a stringless variety of dwarf bush bean that produces bright yellow pods to about 15cm in length.

Uses:

Cherokee Wax beans are best harvested young when they are at their most tender and crisp.  Can be blanched lightly and added to salads, steamed or stir-fried.  Provides an interesting contrast when chopped and mixed with regular green beans.  Also enjoyable when eaten raw in moderation.

Germination:

Plant the seeds 2.5cm deep, spaced 8cm apart in rows.  Allow extra space between rows to enable an easier harvest. In cold areas sow from October to December.  In temperate areas sow from September or as soon as any change of frost has past to February.  In the subtropics sow from August to April.  In the tropics, sow during the dry season from April to July.  If the soil temperature outside is still cool when you come to plant, soaking the seed overnight in warm (not boiling) water with a pinch of Epsom salts stirred in can help to improve seed germination.

Cultivation:

Bush bean plants can sometimes produce pods all at once so it's important to stagger the sowing of seed across the entire growing seasons to avoid a glut and ensure that fresh beans are always available to pick.  Bush bean plants don't need to be staked but pod-laden plants may fall over in strong winds.  To prevent this you can stake each plant or alternatively support the entire row between two lines of string on either side of the plants held in place by stakes at each end of the row.  This variety takes about 9 weeks from sowing the seed to harvest time.  Beans are one of the easiest garden vegetables to grow and even children will enjoy growing these beans.  Beans prefer being planted in well-drained soil in a full sun position, sheltered from any strong winds which could otherwise cause damage to the plants.