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- Start indoors
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- Fall crop
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Historical frost averages plus extension guidance, not a forecast. Check the forecast and soil temperature before planting.
Sow green beans outside 1–4 weeks after your last spring frost, once the soil is at least 60°F. Keep sowing every 2–3 weeks if you like, up until about 11–13 weeks before your first fall frost. Beans are killed by frost and rot in cold soil.
- Frost tolerance
- Tender: no frost
- Soil temperature
- Sow at 60–85°F (min 60°F)
- Days to harvest
- 50–60 days bush; 65–70 pole
The rule we use
- Sow outdoors: 1–4 weeks after the last spring frost
- Last sowing: 11–13 weeks before the first fall frost
Wait for warm soil
Bean seeds need warm soil. Below about 60°F they come up slowly or rot before they sprout, so there's nothing to gain from sowing early. A soil thermometer pushed 2 inches deep tells you when it's time.
Sow seeds 1 inch deep, about 2–4 inches apart. Beans don't need starting indoors; they grow fast and don't like their roots disturbed.
Bush or pole beans
Bush beans grow about 2 feet tall, need no support, and crop in about 50–60 days. Most of the harvest comes over two or three weeks, so sow a new row every 2–3 weeks for a steady supply.
Pole beans climb 6 feet or more and need a trellis or teepee. They take a little longer, around 65–70 days, but keep producing for weeks if you pick often.
Last sowing and harvest
For a late crop, make your last sowing about 11–13 weeks before your first fall frost, so pods are ready before cold nights stop the plants. In hot summers, beans may drop flowers during heat waves and pick up again when it cools.
Pick pods when they're firm and about as thick as a pencil, before the seeds bulge. Picking every few days keeps the plants flowering.
Seeds and supplies for green beans
- Bean seeds at True Leaf Market
- Park Seed for seeds and young plants.
- A soil thermometer to check the soil is warm enough before sowing.
- Trellis netting for pole beans.
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Questions about planting green beans
What is the best month to plant green beans?
Usually April in the Deep South, May in much of the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest, and late May to June in the North. Enter your ZIP above for your dates.
Can I plant green beans in July?
In many areas, yes. Bush beans need about 50–60 days, so check that you have that many days plus a little margin before your first fall frost.
Should I soak bean seeds before planting?
It isn't needed. Sowing into warm, moist soil matters much more.
Sources
- Vegetable Planting Calendar for Central Maryland (2026), University of Maryland Extension
- Vegetables for Spring and Fall Planting; Vegetables for Summer Planting, University of Maryland Extension Master Gardeners
- Vegetable Planting Guide (CMG GardenNotes #720), Colorado State University Extension
- Soil temperature conditions for vegetable seed germination, Oregon State University Extension
- Suggested Vegetable Planting Dates for Utah, Utah State University Extension
- Central North Carolina Planting Calendar for Annual Vegetables, Fruits, and Herbs, NC State Extension
- Frost dates: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (doi:10.25921/4ek7-fk11)