Pencil Pod Black Wax Bean Seeds | Phaseolus vulgaris | 1900 Heirloom | Yellow Wax Snap Bean | Black Seeds | 50–65 Days

Pencil Pod Black Wax Bean Seeds – Phaseolus vulgaris | 1900 Heirloom | Golden Yellow Pods, Black Seeds | Butterbean Wax | 50–65 Days

The Pencil Pod Black Wax Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is a genuine American heirloom snap bean with over 125 years of continuous cultivation — introduced in 1900 from a deliberate cross between the Improved Black Wax Bean and the Black Eyed Wax Bean, and beloved by home gardeners ever since for its exceptional flavor, beautiful appearance, and reliable productivity. The variety produces an abundance of lovely golden-yellow, slightly curved, pencil-round pods ranging from 5½ to 7 inches in length, completely stringless, crisp, and easy to snap — with a distinctive visual surprise inside: jet black seeds that contrast dramatically with the yellow pods, making them one of the most beautiful wax beans available. Also known as Butterbean Wax and Eastern Black Wax. Compact dwarf bush habit reaching 14–16 inches tall. Resistant to rust and common mosaic virus. Germinates well in cold soils. Open-pollinated heirloom, non-GMO. Approximately 50–65 days to maturity.

Variety Details

• Botanical Name: Phaseolus vulgaris
• Variety: Pencil Pod Black Wax — a.k.a. Butterbean Wax, Eastern Black Wax
• Introduced: 1900; bred from Improved Black Wax × Black Eyed Wax Bean cross
• Type: Wax (yellow) snap bean — open-pollinated heirloom, non-GMO
• Growth habit: Determinate bush; compact dwarf plant 14–16 inches tall; no staking required
• Pod: 5½–7 inches; golden yellow; slightly curved; pencil-round; stringless
• Seed: Black — the defining characteristic; striking contrast with the yellow pod
• Days to maturity: 50–65 days (snap bean); allow longer for dry bean harvest
• Disease resistance: Resistant to rust and common mosaic virus
• Cold soil germination: Excellent — germinates well in cooler soils; suitable for early spring planting
• Heat tolerance: Good resistance to heat
• USDA Zones: All zones (warm-season annual)
• Sun: Full sun
• Soil: Well-drained; moderately fertile; pH 6.0–6.8
• Germination: 4–16 days at 60–85°F

Heritage & Provenance

Pencil Pod Black Wax was introduced in 1900 — the product of a purposeful breeding cross between two established 19th-century wax bean varieties: the Improved Black Wax and the Black Eyed Wax Bean. It was bred to combine the best traits of both parents: the long, straight, pencil-round pod of the Improved Black Wax with the cold germination tolerance and mosaic resistance of the Black Eyed Wax lineage. For over 125 years, it has remained a staple of American kitchen garden seed catalogs, favored by generations of home canners and market gardeners for its productivity, flavor, and distinctive appearance. Its black seeds inside golden pods make it one of the most visually dramatic snap beans in the heirloom catalog — beautiful at harvest, beautiful on the plate, and beautiful dried as a seed-saving bean.

Culinary Uses

• Wax bean salads (best use): Blanched and cooled Pencil Pod Black Wax beans are stunning in a simple wax bean salad — dressed with Dijon vinaigrette, shallots, tarragon, and a handful of cherry tomatoes; the golden pods and black seeds are visually arresting on the plate
• Three-bean salad — the classic American deli salad: wax beans, green snap beans, and kidney beans marinated in cider vinegar, sugar, and olive oil with red onion; Pencil Pod’s longer pods make it ideal here
• Steamed or boiled simply — dressed with good butter, fleur de sel, and lemon; the yellow color sets Pencil Pod apart visually from standard green beans on the plate
• Canning — Pencil Pod’s long, uniform pods and excellent flavor make it one of the best wax beans for home pressure canning; a traditional American canning bean
• Pickled wax beans (dilly beans) — the golden pods pack beautifully in mason jars alongside dill, garlic, and white wine vinegar; the black seeds visible through the jar make a striking homemade gift
• Soup and stew — wax beans hold their texture better than green beans in long-cooked dishes; excellent in minestrone, Italian vegetable soup, and French soupe au pistou
• Stir-fry — blanch first, then stir-fry with garlic, ginger, and sesame oil; the golden color adds visual interest to Asian-inspired vegetable dishes
• Casserole — substitutes directly for green beans in green bean casserole with a more visually interesting result; the yellow color creates a golden, rich appearance
• Freezing — blanch 3 minutes, ice bath, freeze flat; stores up to 12 months
• Dry bean use: Allow pods to dry completely on the plant; shell the distinctive black seeds for a visually striking dry bean excellent in soups, stews, and refried beans. The black seeds are as beautiful in the jar as they are in the garden.

Planting Guide

• Direct sow (recommended): Sow outdoors after all danger of frost has passed. Pencil Pod Black Wax germinates well in cooler soils — it can be sown 2–3 weeks before last frost as an early crop in most regions.
• Soaking (optional): Soak seeds in water for 1–2 hours before planting to soften the seed coat and speed germination, particularly in cool soils.
• Depth and spacing: Sow 1–2 inches deep and 2–6 inches apart in rows 18–36 inches apart in full sun.
• Germination: 4–16 days at 60–85°F. Cold soil germination is a noted strength of this variety.
• Succession sowing: As a determinate bush bean, Pencil Pod produces a concentrated harvest flush. Sow a new row every 10–14 days for a continuous season-long supply; or sow all at once for a single large canning/freezing harvest.
• Fertilizing: Beans fix their own nitrogen — avoid excess nitrogen fertilizer. Compost at planting is sufficient.
• Rotation: Rotate bean plantings annually to prevent soil-borne disease buildup.

Harvesting & Seed Saving

• Snap bean harvest: Pick when pods are 3–6 inches long and stringless, before seeds visibly swell. Harvest every 1–2 days to keep the plant in production.
• Dry bean harvest: Allow pods to fully dry and turn brown on the plant. When pods are papery, crisp, and seeds rattle inside, pick or pull the entire plant and hang upside down to finish drying indoors if frost threatens.
• Seed saving: Open-pollinated — save seeds from the best plants year after year. The black seeds are easy to identify and shell. Store in a cool, dry, dark location in airtight containers; viability 3–5 years.