Lazy Wife Greasy Pole Bean, 1885 Burpee Heirloom

This variety was famously introduced by W. Atlee Burpee in 1885, who discovered it being grown by Mennonite immigrants in Bucks County, PA.

• The Derek Fell Strain: Our seeds trace back to the original Burpee stock. They were donated to the Seed Savers Exchange by renowned garden writer Derek Fell, who saved them for over 50 years. He received them from Bill Byrd, who had meticulously maintained the variety after Burpee dropped it from their catalog.

• The Pods: These are distinct from the Lazy Housewife. The pods reach about 5 inches long and become highly constricted and curved as they mature, showing the outline of the seeds inside.
• The Seeds: The seeds are medium-sized, round, and white, measuring between 0.5 and 0.75 cm—noticeably smaller and rounder than the Lazy Housewife seeds.
• Flavor: It is regarded as one of the most flavorful stringless beans in existence. The pods remain tender even as the seeds begin to swell, allowing for a longer harvest window.

"The Lazy Wife is the 'connoisseur’s bean.' While the Lazy Housewife is known for its large seeds and easy shelling, the Lazy Wife is celebrated for its complex flavor and its historic connection to the Burpee legacy. Its unique, constricted pods are a tell-tale sign that you are growing the authentic 1885 Pennsylvania strain."