VegetableBean
Gold Marie Bean
Gold Marie Bean is a vibrant golden-yellow pole bean with Italian heritage and genuine heirloom pedigree. This Phaseolus vulgaris cultivar grows as a vigorous vining plant reaching 60 to 96 inches, producing snap beans with a Romano-type character and distinctive flavor. Maturing in 70 to 79 days, it thrives in zones 3 through 9 and handles drought well, making it reliable across most North American gardens. Its productivity and superior taste align it with traditional European heirloom beans that have been treasured for generations.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-9
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam
Growth Stats
96 in
Height
TypeVining
Spacing
4
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-9
Size
96in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
The golden color alone sets Gold Marie apart from typical green pole beans, creating visual interest in the garden and on the plate. Its Romano-type structure delivers that satisfying flat-pod texture heirloom enthusiasts prize, paired with genuine flavor depth you won't find in commodity varieties. The plant's drought tolerance means it keeps producing even when summer turns dry, and its organic, open-pollinated genetics let you save seed year after year. Growing it on a trellis transforms what could be a sprawling mess into an elegant vertical feature that reaches nearly eight feet.
Common Uses
Gold Marie's snap bean structure makes it excellent for fresh cooking, where its Romano-type flat pods deliver satisfying texture in sautés, steamed preparations, or simply blanched and dressed. The golden color brightens vegetable medleys and salads, adding visual contrast alongside green varieties. Its productivity supports both fresh eating and preservation through freezing, allowing gardeners to capture summer's abundance for winter use.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Sow Gold Marie seeds directly into the garden after all frost danger has passed and soil has warmed. Plant at the base of prepared trellises or support structures to minimize root disturbance later. Direct sowing aligns with the variety's natural vigor and pole bean preference for undisturbed root systems.
Harvesting
Harvest Gold Marie pods when they reach full size but while still tender and snappable, typically 70 to 79 days after planting. Pick pods regularly when they maintain a firm, crisp texture and vibrant golden color; frequent harvesting encourages continued flowering and prolongs production throughout the season. Handle the vines gently when picking to avoid damaging developing flowers and fruits.
Pruning
As a vigorous vining pole bean, Gold Marie benefits from light training to direct growth up the support structure early in the season. Remove any stems that grow horizontally away from the trellis to encourage vertical development and improve air circulation. Beyond basic training, allow the plant to develop naturally; excessive pruning can reduce flowering and bean production.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Phaseolus vulgaris
Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Phaseolus
Growth Habit
Vining
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)VI (I)
History & Origin
“Gold Marie carries the weight of Italian horticultural tradition, an heirloom bean whose parentage speaks to centuries of careful selection in European seed-saving culture. While specific documentation of its development and initial growers remains limited in available records, its designation as an heirloom open-pollinated variety confirms it arrived to modern gardeners through the hands of farmers and seed keepers who valued superior flavor and reliable production enough to maintain it across generations. The variety's presence in contemporary organic seed catalogs reflects the broader heirloom movement that began rescuing such beans from obscurity in the late 20th century.”