Sometimes the common name of a plant variety covers too much territory! The colloquial name of this common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) describes its key characteristic, a yellowish eye or variation thereof around the scar. This feature results in an attractive seed but leads to an oversimplification or overuse of the name. As it turns out there are several different varieties with this name having different characteristics. Three varieties of Yellow Eye were described and illustrated in Hedricks (1931) classic book Beans of New York, none of which had a particularly yellow eye.
I got my seed from Rancho Gordo (https://www.ranchogordo.com/products/yellow-eye-beans) in
California and it bears a classic yellow mark. The original inferred source seems to be New England in the
United States. Vesey’s Seeds of the Canadian Maritime provinces (https://www.veseys.com/ca/yelloweyebakingbean.html) sells seeds of a similar variety developed in Nova Scotia with a short growing season and a yellow/brown splotch. Highly touted Kenearly Yellow Eye from Uprising Seeds (https://uprisingorganics.com/products/bean-bush-dry-kenearly-yellow-eye) and other sources bears a yellow patch of a different form than other Yellow Eyes. Clearly there are different Yellow Eyes with different growing characteristics. However, no matter what version of Yellow Eye you have or buy, it will produce high quality dry beans.
Rancho Gordo’s Yellow Eyes are of the straggling bush to low vine type with numerous basal branches
and a twining stem that climbs whatever support is provided. At maturity the vines reach 80-130 cm (32-
52”) if on a pole or fencing. Flowers are white and as with the pods occur from base to the top of the
plant. Blooms continue to develop on the plant late into the growing season despite leaves being yellow at the base.
Pods are moderately short and straight to slightly curved. The point is straight to slightly (sometimes strongly) curved too and relatively long for the size of pod. Typical pods range from 8.5-10.5 cm (average 9.5 cm = 3 ¾”). They are more or less round in cross section about 1.1 cm (1/2”) across. The length of the point is on average 1.5 cm (2/3”). The pods dry firm and split easily along the back side where there is a sharp ridge.
Three to four seeds are commonly produced per pod, though about 10% of the time there is only one seed. Seeds are more or less oval in outline, but as shown in the close-up image they often have a dimple or depression at one end. The colour is mostly white however a stunning yellowish-brown “eye” or patch surrounds the scar. The patch outline is mostly smooth to wavy, sometimes with single dots detached from the main zone of colour. The scar is surrounded by a depressed flat zone usually with a darker colour than the patch. Typical seeds range from 1.1 to 1.3 cm (1/2“) long. They are more or less round in cross section about 0.8 cm (1/3”) high and ever so slightly less thick.
In the typical year of 2023, I sowed seeds on May 5 without soaking or plastic sheet cover. All seeds emerged by May 27 and white flowers were out July 3. By July 16 there were masses of white flowers and 3-5cm (1-2”) short flat pods. Pods and flowers continued to develop to the end of the month with the pods reaching 7-8 cm (about 3”) on August 2. At this time the plants showed a consistent pattern of leaves turning yellow at the base while the rest of the plant was vigorous and green. By August 14 many of the leaves were turning yellow but the top remained bright green with blooms. There were many yellow pods that I harvested on August 27 when 85% of the pods were dry. I then let the pods finish drying for about a week. Accordingly, the days to harvest was 114. In the previous year the harvest took place about 105 days after sowing. In the 2024 the spring has been cool, as also is late August as I write this article. The pods have formed but are not ripening so I expect an extended time to harvest.
Yellow Eye seems to require warm soil to germinate. In the three years I have grown it, the germination has been incomplete for early to mid May sowings (70-80% or less). For example, in 2023 I had to resow on June 4th with the result that some pods dried early (the few that germinated from the early May sowing) and others matured a few days later. I strongly recommend a late May to earliest June sowing when the soil has warmed up. The yield in 2023 was 0.58 kg in 3 m of row =0.19 kg/m (0.13 lbs/foot).
Yellow Eye is highly prized for eating. It tastes mild and has a rich and creamy texture. The beans take on the flavours of whatever you are cooking them with such as pork from smoked ham hocks. Many sources praise Yellow Eyes as the best beans for New England baked beans, or in Canada for Maritime baked beans. According to some folks they have a russet potato texture perfect for mixing with other baked-bean ingredients. The beans also combine superbly with vegetables in soups for those cold winter days.
Search out the closest local source of Yellow Eyes suited to your climate. Plant when the soil is warm and enjoy this mild dry bean in baked bean dishes as the fall cool season begins. And remember not all varieties with the same common name grow the same, so keep testing beans from different sources until you find the strain that grows best under your changing climatic conditions.
