When to plant green beans
Green Beans are frost-tender: plant them out only after your last spring frost. Sow every two to three weeks for a steady harvest; beans rot in cold, wet soil.
- Sow seeds outdoors 1–4 weeks after the last spring frost.
- For a fall crop, sow 9–11 weeks before the first fall frost.
About 55 days from planting to harvest.
Get exact dates for your garden
Planting dates by hardiness zone
| Zone | Typical last frost | Start indoors | Sow outdoors | Fall crop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2a | May 24 | — | May 31 – Jun 21 | — |
| 3b | May 17 | — | May 24 – Jun 14 | Jul 9 – Jul 23 |
| 4a | May 12 | — | May 19 – Jun 9 | Jul 13 – Jul 27 |
| 4b | May 8 | — | May 15 – Jun 5 | Jul 16 – Jul 30 |
| 5a | May 3 | — | May 10 – May 31 | Jul 20 – Aug 3 |
| 5b | May 1 | — | May 8 – May 29 | Jul 26 – Aug 9 |
| 6a | Apr 29 | — | May 6 – May 27 | Aug 1 – Aug 15 |
| 6b | Apr 22 | — | Apr 29 – May 20 | Aug 6 – Aug 20 |
| 7a | Apr 16 | — | Apr 23 – May 14 | Aug 9 – Aug 23 |
| 7b | Apr 5 | — | Apr 12 – May 3 | Aug 16 – Aug 30 |
| 8a | Mar 29 | — | Apr 5 – Apr 26 | Aug 22 – Sep 5 |
| 8b | Mar 16 | — | Mar 23 – Apr 13 | Aug 29 – Sep 12 |
| 9a | Mar 3 | — | Mar 10 – Mar 31 | Sep 9 – Sep 23 |
| 9b | Feb 20 | — | Feb 27 – Mar 20 | Sep 19 – Oct 3 |
| 10a | Mar 2 | — | Mar 9 – Mar 30 | Sep 15 – Sep 29 |
Zone rows use the median frost dates of all ZIP codes in that zone. Zones measure winter cold, not season length, so two places in the same zone can have frost dates weeks apart — use your ZIP code for real dates.
When to plant green beans in major cities
| City | Median last frost | Sow outdoors | Fall crop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | Mar 13 | Mar 20 – Apr 10 | Sep 1 – Sep 15 |
| Portland, OR | Feb 25 | Mar 4 – Mar 25 | Sep 15 – Sep 29 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | Apr 25 | May 2 – May 23 | Aug 2 – Aug 16 |
| Denver, CO | Apr 30 | May 7 – May 28 | Jul 27 – Aug 10 |
| Minneapolis, MN | Apr 23 | Apr 30 – May 21 | Jul 31 – Aug 14 |
| Chicago, IL | Apr 10 | Apr 17 – May 8 | Aug 20 – Sep 3 |
| Detroit, MI | Apr 27 | May 4 – May 25 | Aug 9 – Aug 23 |
| Kansas City, MO | Apr 4 | Apr 11 – May 2 | Aug 17 – Aug 31 |
| Columbus, OH | Apr 20 | Apr 27 – May 18 | Aug 8 – Aug 22 |
| Boston, MA | Apr 4 | Apr 11 – May 2 | Aug 24 – Sep 7 |
| New York, NY | Mar 30 | Apr 6 – Apr 27 | Sep 4 – Sep 18 |
| Philadelphia, PA | Mar 30 | Apr 6 – Apr 27 | Sep 1 – Sep 15 |
| Washington, DC | Mar 29 | Apr 5 – Apr 26 | Aug 23 – Sep 6 |
| Charlotte, NC | Mar 30 | Apr 6 – Apr 27 | Aug 18 – Sep 1 |
| Nashville, TN | Apr 1 | Apr 8 – Apr 29 | Aug 15 – Aug 29 |
| Atlanta, GA | Mar 25 | Apr 1 – Apr 22 | Aug 24 – Sep 7 |
| Dallas, TX | Mar 2 | Mar 9 – Mar 30 | Sep 13 – Sep 27 |
Growing green beans: quick facts
| Frost tolerance | Tender: killed by frost; plant after the last frost |
|---|---|
| Soil temperature | at least 60°F to germinate; 70–90°F is ideal |
| Planting depth | 1 in |
| Spacing | 2–4 in (bush) |
| Germination | 6–10 days |
| Days to harvest | about 55 days from planting |
Typical figures from university extension planting guides. Seed packets give the best numbers for a specific variety.