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When to plant green beans
Plant green beans 1–3 weeks after the last spring frost in spring, or 9–11 weeks before the first fall frost for a fall crop. Wait until the soil is at least 60°F. That works out to zone 5b (mid May to late May), zone 7a (late April to early May) and zone 9a (early March to late March).
Green beans planting dates by zone
| Zone | Spring | Fall | green beans ready from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4a | May 22 – Jun 5 | Jul 11 – Jul 25 | Jul 18 |
| 4b | May 20 – Jun 3 | Jul 14 – Jul 28 | Jul 16 |
| 5a | May 18 – Jun 1 | Jul 16 – Jul 30 | Jul 14 |
| 5b | May 12 – May 26 | Jul 23 – Aug 6 | Jul 8 |
| 6a | May 7 – May 21 | Jul 30 – Aug 13 | Jul 3 |
| 6b | May 1 – May 15 | Aug 3 – Aug 17 | Jun 27 |
| 7a | Apr 22 – May 6 | Aug 9 – Aug 23 | Jun 18 |
| 7b | Apr 13 – Apr 27 | Aug 16 – Aug 30 | Jun 9 |
| 8a | Apr 3 – Apr 17 | Aug 22 – Sep 5 | May 30 |
| 8b | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | Aug 30 – Sep 13 | May 19 |
| 9a | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | Sep 10 – Sep 24 | May 5 |
| 9b | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | Sep 24 – Oct 8 | Apr 9 |
How to plant green beans
| Plant as | seeds outdoors |
|---|---|
| Soil temperature | 60°F or warmer |
| Depth | 1 in |
| Spacing | 2–4 in (bush) or 6 in (pole) |
| Light | Full sun |
| Time to harvest | 50–65 days |
Sow bush beans every 2–3 weeks until about 10 weeks before the first fall frost.
Do not soak bean seed: it can crack and rot.
Pole beans produce longer than bush beans but take about a week more to start bearing.
When to harvest green beans
Pick when pods are firm and about pencil-thick, before the seeds bulge.
Exact dates for your town: planting calendar · frost dates by state.
More vegetables to plant
Tomatoes · Bell peppers · Potatoes · Pumpkins · Cucumbers · Okra · Zucchini · Watermelon