When to plant bush beans by city
Sow bush beans outdoors 1–8 weeks after your last frost, once the soil is at least 60°F. For a fall crop, sow 10–12 weeks before your first fall frost. Here is what that means for 2027 in cities across the US, using each city’s average frost dates and the date its normal daily temperature reaches 60°F, so cool-spring places like Seattle wait for real warmth (NOAA 1991–2020). Pick the city with the climate most like yours, or enter your ZIP code above.
| City | Last frost | Sow outdoors | Fall crop |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA (9a) | Mar 13 | May 29 – Jul 17 | Aug 25 – Sep 8 |
| Portland, OR (8b) | Feb 25 | May 24 – Jul 12 | Sep 8–22 |
| Sacramento, CA (9b) | Jan 12 | Apr 5 – May 24 | Sep 23 – Oct 7 |
| Phoenix, AZ (10a) | Jan 5 | Feb 15 – Apr 5 | Oct 11–25 |
| Salt Lake City, UT (7b) | Mar 31 | May 8 – Jun 26 | Aug 16–30 |
| Denver, CO (6a) | Apr 30 | May 17 – Jul 5 | Jul 20 – Aug 3 |
| Dallas, TX (8b) | Mar 2 | Mar 17 – May 5 | Sep 6–20 |
| Minneapolis, MN (5a) | Apr 23 | May 19 – Jul 7 | Jul 24 – Aug 7 |
| Kansas City, MO (6b) | Apr 4 | Apr 25 – Jun 13 | Aug 10–24 |
| Chicago, IL (6b) | Apr 10 | May 22 – Jul 10 | Aug 13–27 |
| Columbus, OH (6b) | Apr 20 | May 7 – Jun 25 | Aug 1–15 |
| Nashville, TN (7b) | Apr 1 | Apr 16 – Jun 4 | Aug 8–22 |
| Atlanta, GA (8a) | Mar 24 | Apr 8 – May 27 | Aug 16–30 |
| Raleigh, NC (8a) | Mar 28 | Apr 13 – Jun 1 | Aug 16–30 |
| Philadelphia, PA (7b) | Mar 30 | Apr 27 – Jun 15 | Aug 25 – Sep 8 |
| Boston, MA (7a) | Apr 4 | May 20 – Jul 8 | Aug 17–31 |
In frost-free parts of Florida, southern California and the Gulf Coast, timing is about heat instead: plant bush beans in late winter or early spring and again in late summer.
Don’t go by the calendar alone. Bush beans planted into cold soil sit still for weeks; wait until the soil 4 inches down is at least 60°F and nights stay above 50°F.
Bush bean spacing
In a square-foot bed, plant 9 per square foot. In traditional rows, space plants about 4 inches apart with 18 inches between rows.
Sow every 2–3 weeks for a steady supply. Seeds rot in cold soil.
How to grow bush beans
Bush beans are one of the most reliable warm-season crops: easy to sow, quick to bear and free of any need for support. Plants produce most of their crop over two or three weeks, so gardeners who want beans all summer sow a new batch every few weeks.
Sun and soil
Full sun and well-drained soil with a pH of about 6.0–7.0. Beans fix their own nitrogen and need only moderate fertility. Keep soil moist, about 1 inch of water a week, especially during flowering and pod fill.
Planting
- Sow 1 inch deep once soil is at least 60°F, from 1 week after the last frost onward. Seeds rot in cold, wet soil.
- Thin to 4 inches apart in rows 18 inches apart.
- Sow again every 2–3 weeks until about 8 weeks after the last frost, then once more 10–12 weeks before the first fall frost.
- Where beans have never grown, coating seed with a bean inoculant can help nodules form.
Care
- Skip high-nitrogen fertilizer; it grows leaves at the expense of pods.
- Water at the base and stay out of the patch when leaves are wet, which spreads bacterial blight.
- Mulch once plants are up to hold moisture and keep pods clean.
Harvest
Pick snap beans 7–14 days after flowering, when pods are full length and firm but the seeds inside are still small. Pick every 2–3 days and hold the plant with one hand while you pull to avoid uprooting it. Regular picking keeps plants flowering.
Common problems
- Poor germination: Usually cold or waterlogged soil, or a crust over heavy clay. Wait for 60°F soil and do not plant too deep.
- Mexican bean beetle: Copper-colored adults and spiny yellow larvae that skeletonize leaves from below. Hand-pick, crush yellow egg clusters, and use row cover where it is a problem.
- Bean blight: Water-soaked spots that turn brown. Rotate beans, avoid overhead watering, and stay out of wet plants.
- Flowers drop: Heat above about 95°F or dry soil. Keep soil moist and mulched; pod set resumes when it cools.
Varieties to try
- 'Provider' — germinates well in cooler soil, early
- 'Blue Lake 274' — classic round, stringless green bean
- 'Contender' — early, productive and heat tolerant
- 'Royal Burgundy' — purple pods that turn green when cooked
Crop rotation
Bush beans belong to the pea family (Fabaceae). Fix nitrogen with soil bacteria. Plant heavy feeders where they grew last year. Relatives that count as the same family for rotation: pole bean, pea.
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant bush beans?
What grows well with bush beans?
How far apart should I plant bush beans?
How long do bush beans take to grow?
Can bush beans handle frost?
Sources
- Frost dates: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
- Hardiness zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, USDA-ARS and PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University.
- Planting windows and spacing: Vegetable Planting Guide (GardenNotes #720), Colorado State University Extension, and other land-grant extension guides.
- Food Yields and Nutrient Analyses of the Three Sisters, Jane Mt. Pleasant, Ethnobiology Letters 7(1), 2016
- Gardening with Companion Plants (EM128E), Linda Chalker-Scott, Washington State University Extension, 2023
- Beans in the Garden — Utah State University Extension