How to Grow Goldilocks
Phaseolus vulgaris
Goldilocks beans are an easy-to-grow heirloom variety of Phaseolus vulgaris that produces compact plants perfect for small spaces. Gardeners prize this warm-season crop for its reliable yield and strong resistance to common diseases like anthracnose and bacterial brown spot.
📷 Wikipedia: Phaseolus vulgarisStarting Goldilocks: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Goldilocks is not usually started indoors.
Direct sow seeds outdoors only after all danger of frost has passed and soil is warm.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. As a frost-sensitive warm-season bean, you must wait until after the last spring frost when soil temperatures are consistently above 50°F before sowing directly outdoors. Do not start indoors; instead, plant seeds about one inch deep in the prepared bed once the danger of freezing is completely past.
Space plants four to six inches apart in rows to ensure good air circulation. Because this variety grows only eighteen to twenty-four inches tall, it does not require trellising or support structures. Maintain regular moisture by providing one to one-and-a-half inches of water weekly, and apply mulch around the base to retain soil humidity while you feed plants with balanced fertilizer.
Monitor for bean beetles, spider mites, and aphids, treating infestations early with insecticidal soap. While resistant to anthracnose and mosaic virus, watch for rust and powdery mildew by ensuring proper airflow. Harvest the pods fifty-two days after sowing when they are tender and before they begin to toughen or turn yellow.
When to Plant Goldilocks
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | — | July – August | September – August |
| Zone 2 | — | June – August | September |
| 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 |
| Zone 11 | — | January – March | April – May |
| Zone 12 | — | January – March | April – May |
| Zone 13 | — | January – March | April – May |
Companion Plants for Goldilocks
✓ Good companions
Beans fix nitrogen in soil which carrots need, carrots don't compete for space
Provides natural support structure for climbing beans, classic Three Sisters companion
Both benefit from similar growing conditions and bean nitrogen fixation
Benefits from nitrogen fixed by beans, provides ground cover
Repel Mexican bean beetles, aphids, and other bean pests
Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, attract beneficial insects
Help break up soil for bean roots and deter bean beetles
Large leaves suppress weeds and retain soil moisture, completes Three Sisters planting
✗ Keep away from
Inhibits growth of beans through allelopathic chemicals released from roots
Allelopathic compounds can stunt bean growth and reduce yields
Can inhibit bean growth and nitrogen fixation through root compounds
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
