When to plant green beans by zone
Phaseolus vulgaris is a warm-season crop that is tender to frost. Rule of thumb: direct sow from 1 week after to 6 weeks after the last frost; for a fall crop, sow or plant 10–12 weeks before the first fall frost.
Green Beans planting dates by zone
Each row uses the median 30%-risk frost dates of the major cities in that zone; rows marked * have no major city and use the median of NOAA stations in that zone instead. Frost dates vary a lot within a zone, so use your city page for local dates. In frost-free climates: Feb 15 – Apr 30; Aug 15 – Sep 30.
| Zone | Median last frost | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1a* | May 29 | — | — | Jun 5 – Jul 10 | — |
| 1b* | May 29 | — | — | Jun 5 – Jul 10 | — |
| 2a | May 21 | — | — | May 28 – Jul 2 | — |
| 2b* | May 20 | — | — | May 27 – Jul 1 | — |
| 3a* | Jun 4 | — | — | Jun 11 – Jul 16 | — |
| 3b* | May 24 | — | — | May 31 – Jul 5 | Jun 26 – Jul 10 |
| 4a | May 12 | — | — | May 19 – Jun 23 | Jul 5 – Jul 19 |
| 4b | May 5 | — | — | May 12 – Jun 16 | Jul 12 – Jul 26 |
| 5a | May 4 | — | — | May 11 – Jun 15 | Jul 11 – Jul 25 |
| 5b | May 4 | — | — | May 11 – Jun 15 | Jul 17 – Jul 31 |
| 6a | May 4 | — | — | May 11 – Jun 15 | Jul 17 – Jul 31 |
| 6b | Apr 26 | — | — | May 3 – Jun 7 | Jul 29 – Aug 12 |
| 7a | Apr 22 | — | — | Apr 29 – Jun 3 | Jul 29 – Aug 12 |
| 7b | Apr 10 | — | — | Apr 17 – May 22 | Aug 4 – Aug 18 |
| 8a | Apr 1 | — | — | Apr 8 – May 13 | Aug 11 – Aug 25 |
| 8b | Mar 22 | — | — | Mar 29 – May 3 | Aug 18 – Sep 1 |
| 9a | Mar 11 | — | — | Mar 18 – Apr 22 | Aug 27 – Sep 10 |
| 9b | Feb 12 | — | — | Feb 19 – Mar 26 | Sep 10 – Sep 24 |
| 10a | Jan 26 | — | — | Feb 2 – Mar 9 | Sep 22 – Oct 6 |
| 10b | Jan 27 | — | — | Feb 3 – Mar 10 | Sep 20 – Oct 4 |
| 11a | Rare | Feb 15 – Apr 30; Aug 15 – Sep 30 | |||
| 11b* | Rare | Feb 15 – Apr 30; Aug 15 – Sep 30 | |||
| 12a* | Rare | Feb 15 – Apr 30; Aug 15 – Sep 30 | |||
| 12b | Rare | Feb 15 – Apr 30; Aug 15 – Sep 30 | |||
| 13a* | Rare | Feb 15 – Apr 30; Aug 15 – Sep 30 | |||
| 13b* | Rare | Feb 15 – Apr 30; Aug 15 – Sep 30 | |||
Growing tips
- Direct sow; beans resent transplanting.
- Seed rots in cold, wet soil — waiting a week is better than resowing.
- Bush types bear all at once; pole types bear longer.
Related guides: which frost date to use · succession and fall planting.
Exact dates for your city
Popular: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Phoenix, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Diego, Dallas, Jacksonville, Fort Worth, San Jose — or browse all cities by state.
Other crops: Tomato, Pepper, Lettuce, Sweet Corn, Zucchini & Summer Squash, Cucumber, Carrot, Onion, Potato, Basil, Spinach, Kale, Broccoli, Peas, Eggplant, Cabbage, Radish, Strawberry, Beets
Green Beans planting questions
When can I plant green beans outside?
Sow seed directly from 1 week after to 6 weeks after the last frost, once the soil reaches about 60°F (15.6°C). Examples: zone 5a (median last frost May 4): May 11 – Jun 15; zone 6b (median last frost Apr 26): May 3 – Jun 7; zone 8a (median last frost Apr 1): Apr 8 – May 13.
Can I grow green beans as a fall crop?
Yes. Sow or plant 10–12 weeks before your first fall frost. For a first frost around Oct 15, that is Jul 23 – Aug 6. Add about two weeks to the days to maturity for slower fall growth — see fall planting.
Is my growing season long enough for green beans?
Green beans needs 50–60 days from sowing, and must finish before fall frost. Counting from planting 1 week after the last frost plus two weeks of harvest, slower varieties need about 81 days between the 30% frost dates. That is longer than the season in 0 of the 460 cities on this site with frost dates.
What soil temperature does green beans need?
At least 60°F (15.6°C) at planting depth. Cold soil slows germination more than a short delay in planting does, so in a cold spring it pays to wait a week past the usual date. As a tender crop, green beans cannot take frost.
How far apart should I plant green beans?
Recommended in-row spacing: 3–6 in. Direct sow; beans resent transplanting.
When do you plant green beans where frost is rare?
In frost-free climates, plant green beans Feb 15 – Apr 30 and Aug 15 – Sep 30, timing growth for the mildest months. This applies to cities such as Los Angeles, CA, San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA.