Cherokee Wax Beans are an heirloom variety of common snap bean, known for their bright, buttery yellow pods. They offer a mild, slightly sweet flavor and a tender-crisp texture, making them popular for fresh eating, canning, or freezing. This variety is recognized for its historical significance, believed to have originated with the Native American Cherokee tribe, and has been a reliable garden staple.
Classifying Cherokee Wax Beans
Cherokee Wax Beans are classified as a bush bean variety, which dictates their growth habit and gardening requirements. Bush beans are non-vining, possessing a determinate growth pattern that results in a compact, self-supporting plant. The plants typically grow into a manageable, upright bush form, reaching heights between 16 and 18 inches.
This structure eliminates the need for external support, such as stakes or trellises, which are necessary for pole bean varieties. Pole beans have an indeterminate, vining habit, continuously growing and producing pods over a longer season. The compact nature of the Cherokee Wax bush bean allows it to be grown easily in containers or smaller garden spaces.
Planting and Maintenance for Bush Varieties
Successful cultivation begins with ensuring the soil is warm, ideally above 60°F, before direct seeding. Bush beans thrive in full sun and well-draining soil with a near-neutral pH, typically ranging from 6.0 to 7.0. Plant the seeds about one inch deep, spacing them two to four inches apart within the row.
Rows should be spaced 18 to 24 inches apart to allow for proper air circulation and easy access for harvesting. Once seedlings develop their first true leaves, thin them to a final spacing of about six inches between plants. This closer spacing maximizes yield in a smaller footprint, characteristic of bush varieties.
Watering is important, as the plants require one to two inches of water per week. Consistent moisture is needed during the flowering stage; dry soil can cause blossoms to drop, reducing the final harvest. Avoid excessive nitrogen fertilization, which encourages lush foliage growth at the expense of pod production.
The determinate growth means these bush beans mature faster than pole beans, usually ready for harvest in 50 to 60 days. To ensure continuous production and tender pods, the beans must be picked regularly before the seeds inside begin to bulge. Frequent harvesting encourages the plant to continue setting new flowers and pods.