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Beans

When to start, transplant and harvest beans, as 6 university extension services put it, and what that means in each zone.

Family
Fabaceae5
Type
Legume
Rules
9
Last reviewed
Garden experts do not always agree, so I show every rule side by side.

Five digits. The calendar is computed on your device.

Spring timing, source by source

Every rule counts from the last spring frost, so the same rule gives different dates in different gardens. Here are the rules themselves before any dates are worked out.

  1. Colorado StateSow outdoors
  2. Utah StateSow outdoors
  3. Oregon State, central ORTransplant outdoors
  4. Oregon State, central ORStart indoors
  5. Texas A&M (E-502)Sow outdoors
  • Plant outdoors
  • Start indoors
Figure 1. How each extension source times beans in spring, in weeks before or after the last frost. Sources disagree; each bar is one publication's rule, shown as written.

Fall timing, source by source

Fall rules count from the first fall frost.

  1. Texas A&M (E-502)Plant for fall
  2. Texas A&M (E-502)Plant for fall
  • Plant outdoors
Figure 2. How each extension source times beans in fall, in weeks before or after the first frost. Rules written for warm states sit weeks earlier than those for cold ones.
Table 1. Planting rules for beans, as published.
SourceWritten forWhatWhen
Colorado State1COSow outdoorsOn the last frost
Utah State2UTSow outdoorsOn the last frost
Oregon State, central OR9central OregonTransplant outdoors1 weeks after last frost
Oregon State, central OR9central OregonStart indoors3 weeks before last frost
Texas A&M (E-502)4TXSow outdoors1-4 weeks after last frost
Texas A&M (E-502)4TXPlant for fall8-10 weeks before first frost
Texas A&M (E-502)4TXPlant for fall14-16 weeks before first frost
Nebraska (G1343)10NEPlant for fallCount back days to maturity + 14-day fall factor (+14 for tender crops) from the first frost
Purdue (HO-66)3INPlant for fallCount back days to maturity from the first frost

Beans by hardiness zone

Applied to the frost records of every ZIP in each zone. The zone median is a starting point; your own station can be weeks earlier or later.

Table 2. Outdoor planting for beans by zone, using the Oregon State, central OR rule. Linked zones have their own page.
ZoneWhatZone medianAcross most of the zone
4aTransplant outdoorsMay 19May 12 – May 31
4bTransplant outdoorsMay 15May 8 – Jun 1
5aTransplant outdoorsMay 10May 3 – May 27
5bTransplant outdoorsMay 8Apr 28 – May 24
6aTransplant outdoorsMay 5Apr 23 – May 17
6bTransplant outdoorsApr 29Apr 17 – May 10
7aTransplant outdoorsApr 23Apr 11 – May 5
7bTransplant outdoorsApr 12Apr 6 – Apr 24
8aTransplant outdoorsApr 5Mar 27 – Apr 14
8bTransplant outdoorsMar 24Mar 13 – Apr 8
9aTransplant outdoorsMar 9Feb 23 – Mar 25

Growing facts

Table 3. Each value as one source states it. Sources measure differently, so values are not averaged.
FactValueSource
Frost tolerancetenderColorado State1
Frost tolerancetenderUtah State2
Frost tolerancetenderPurdue (HO-66)3
Minimum soil temperature55°FColorado State1
Best soil temperature80°FColorado State1
Days to germinate6-14 daysColorado State1
Days to germinate5-10 daysTexas A&M (E-502)4
Days to maturity60 days from plantingColorado State1
Days to maturity45-60 days from plantingTexas A&M (E-502)4
Days to maturity60-70 days from plantingTexas A&M (E-502)4
Days to maturity45-60 days from seedUF/IFAS Florida5
Days to maturity50-70 days from seedUF/IFAS Florida5
Days to maturity60-90 days from plantingArizona (AZ1005)6
Days to maturity50 days from seedPurdue (HO-66)3
Spacing6 in apart each wayColorado State1
Spacing3-4 in in the row, rows 30-36 in apartTexas A&M (E-502)4
Spacing4-6 in in the row, rows 36-48 in apartTexas A&M (E-502)4
Spacing2-4 in in the row, rows 18 in apartUF/IFAS Florida5
Spacing3-5 in in the row, rows 36 in apartUF/IFAS Florida5
Spacing2 in in the rowPurdue (HO-66)3
Heat limit90°Fncsu-burke-blossom-drop7
Heat limit90°Fpurdue-hot-weather8

Companions, and how sure anyone is

  • Onions · Avoid together Traditional pairing11

  • Garlic · Avoid together Traditional pairing11

  • Cucumbers · Helps Traditional pairing11

    Bush beans in the chart.

  • Potatoes · Helps Traditional pairing11

  • Peas · Helps Traditional pairing11

Traditional pairings come from a UC Master Gardener chart that traces to the UC Davis Edible Landscaping Handbook and ATTRA. The chart gives no reasons, and we found no trial of these pairs; treat them as garden lore.

All beans companions, with sources · The full companion chart

Sources

  1. Colorado State University Extension, Vegetable Planting Guide (CMG GardenNotes #720), reviewed September 2024. Retrieved 2026-11-02.
  2. Utah State University Extension, Suggested Vegetable Planting Dates for Utah, January 2018; revised May 2025. Retrieved 2026-11-02.
  3. Purdue Extension, The Fall Vegetable Garden (HO-66-W), reviewed September 2019. Retrieved 2026-11-02.
  4. Texas AgriLife Extension Service, The Texas A&M System, Texas Home Vegetable Gardening Guide (E-502), 2/09. Retrieved 2026-11-02.
  5. University of Florida, IFAS Extension (Department of Horticultural Sciences), Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (SP 103 / VH021), Original December 1999; revised October 2015, January 2016, May 2018, September 2020, September 2021, and June 2025. Retrieved 2026-11-02.
  6. The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Vegetable Planting Calendar for Maricopa County (AZ1005), reviewed This information has been reviewed by University faculty.. Retrieved 2026-11-02.
  7. N.C. Cooperative Extension, Burke County Center, Blossom Drop, 2021-07-01. Retrieved 2026-11-02.
  8. Purdue University, Indiana Yard and Garden (Purdue Consumer Horticulture), Hot Weather Is Tough on Plants Too!, reviewed Page last modified October 26, 2016. Retrieved 2026-11-02.
  9. Oregon State University Extension Service, When to start seeds indoors in central Oregon, reviewed 2024. Retrieved 2026-11-02.
  10. University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension, Fall Vegetable Gardening (NebGuide G1343), Revised March 2012. Retrieved 2026-11-02.
  11. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCCE Master Gardener Program), Companion Planting Chart: Companion planting in the vegetable garden, File dated 2023-09 in URL path; no date printed. Retrieved 2026-11-02.