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Gold Rush Bush Bean

Phaseolus vulgaris 'Gold Rush'

A premium yellow wax bean that delivers exceptional flavor and beautiful golden color to the garden and dinner table. This high-yielding variety produces straight, tender pods that hold their color and quality exceptionally well. Gold Rush is beloved by gardeners for its reliability, disease resistance, and outstanding fresh eating quality.

Harvest

50-55d

Days to harvest

📅

Sun

Full sun

☀️

Zones

2–11

USDA hardiness

🗺️

Difficulty

Easy

🌱

Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct Sow

Harvest

Direct Sow

Harvest

Showing dates for Gold Rush Bush Bean in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 bean →

Zone Map

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Gold Rush Bush Bean · Zones 2–11

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing4-6 inches

SoilWell-drained, fertile soil with good organic content

pH6.0-7.0

Water1 inch per week, even moisture

SeasonWarm season

FlavorSweet, tender, and buttery with excellent snap texture

ColorBright golden yellow

Size5-6 inch pods

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 3	—	—	June – July	August – October
Zone 4	—	—	June – July	August – October
Zone 5	—	—	May – June	August – September
Zone 6	—	—	May – June	July – September
Zone 7	—	—	April – June	July – August
Zone 8	—	—	April – May	June – August
Zone 9	—	—	March – April	May – July
Zone 10	—	—	February – April	May – June

Complete Growing Guide

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: High Organic Matter. Drainage: Good Drainage. Spacing: 6-feet-12 feet. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: 'Rattlesnake'Pole Snap Bean, 'Rattlesnake'. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

The boat-shaped seed pods are bilaterally symmetrical and can be green, yellow, white, or purple at maturity. There is a wide variety of color and shape choices among cultivars.

Color: Gold/Yellow, Green, Purple/Lavender, White. Type: Legume. Length: > 3 inches. Width: < 1 inch.

Garden value: Edible, Good Dried

Harvest time: Fall, Summer

Bloom time: Spring, Summer

Storage & Preservation

Fresh Gold Rush beans maintain peak quality for 4-7 days when stored unwashed in perforated plastic bags in the refrigerator crisper drawer at 32-40°F. Don't wash until ready to use, as moisture accelerates deterioration.

For freezing, blanch whole pods in boiling water for 3 minutes, then immediately plunge into ice water. Drain thoroughly and package in freezer bags, removing excess air. Properly blanched beans maintain quality for 8-10 months frozen.

Gold Rush beans excel for pressure canning due to their firm texture and color retention. Follow USDA guidelines for canning green beans, processing pints for 20 minutes at 10 pounds pressure. The golden color holds beautifully through the canning process.

For pickle making, use young, tender pods within 24 hours of harvest. The sweet, buttery flavor of Gold Rush creates exceptional dilly beans that maintain their characteristic golden color and crisp texture when properly processed.

History & Origin

Origin: Tropical America

Advantages

+Fast-growing

Considerations

-Toxic (Seeds): Medium severity

Companion Plants

Plant Together

Nasturtium

Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, repels bean beetles

Carrots

Beans fix nitrogen that carrots need, carrots don't compete for space

Radishes

Break up soil for bean roots and mature quickly before beans need full space

Lettuce

Provides ground cover and benefits from nitrogen fixed by beans

Summer Savory

Repels bean beetles and may improve bean flavor and growth

Marigold

Repels Mexican bean beetles and aphids while attracting beneficial insects

Corn

Beans fix nitrogen for corn's heavy feeding needs

Cucumber

Benefits from nitrogen fixed by beans and doesn't compete for nutrients

Keep Apart

Onions

Can inhibit bean growth and nitrogen fixation through root compounds

Garlic

Allelopathic compounds can stunt bean growth and reduce yields

Sunflower

Allelopathic effects inhibit bean germination and growth

Nutrition Facts

Protein

1.97g(4%)

Fiber

3.01g(11%)

Carbs

7.41g(3%)

Fat

0.275g(0%)

Vitamin K

43.9mcg(37%)

Iron

0.652mg(4%)

Calcium

40mg(3%)

Potassium

290mg(6%)

Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2346400)

Pests & Disease Resistance

Resistance

Excellent resistance to bean common mosaic virus and white mold

Common Pests

Bean leaf beetles, aphids, thrips, Japanese beetles

Diseases

Rust, bacterial blight, anthracnose (resistant to many)

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does Gold Rush bush bean take to grow?▼

Gold Rush beans mature in 50-55 days from planting to first harvest. Once production begins, you'll harvest pods continuously for 3-4 weeks with regular picking every 2-3 days. The total growing season extends 8-10 weeks from planting to final harvest, making them ideal for succession planting in most growing zones.

Can you grow Gold Rush beans in containers?▼

Yes, Gold Rush beans grow excellently in containers since they're bush-type plants that don't require staking. Use containers at least 12 inches deep and 18 inches wide, with drainage holes. Plant 4-6 seeds per large container, spacing them 4-6 inches apart. Container plants need more frequent watering but often produce earlier than garden-planted beans.

What do Gold Rush beans taste like?▼

Gold Rush beans offer a distinctively sweet, buttery flavor with tender, crisp texture when harvested young. They're notably less 'beany' tasting than many green varieties, with a mild, pleasant flavor that appeals even to those who typically don't enjoy beans. The texture has an excellent snap when raw and maintains tenderness when cooked properly.

When should I plant Gold Rush beans?▼

Plant Gold Rush beans after soil temperature reaches a consistent 60°F and all frost danger has passed. In zones 3-5, plant late May to early June; zones 6-9 can plant mid-April through early summer. For continuous harvest, make succession plantings every 2-3 weeks until 10-12 weeks before expected fall frost.

Are Gold Rush beans good for beginners?▼

Gold Rush beans are excellent for beginning gardeners due to their disease resistance, reliable germination, and forgiving nature. They don't require staking, have clear harvest indicators (bright yellow color and snap test), and produce abundantly with basic care. The main beginner challenge is remembering to harvest regularly to maintain production.

Gold Rush vs Cherokee Trail of Tears beans - what's the difference?▼

Gold Rush produces tender yellow wax beans for fresh eating in 50-55 days, while Cherokee Trail of Tears is an heirloom variety grown primarily as a dry bean with purple pods and black seeds, maturing in 85+ days. Gold Rush is a modern hybrid focused on fresh consumption, whereas Cherokee Trail of Tears is a culturally significant heirloom dried bean variety.