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When to plant green beans in zone 4b

In zone 4b, where the last spring frost typically comes around May 8, sow outdoors May 28 to June 11.

The zone 4b schedule for green beans

Sow outdoors
May 28 to June 11
Soil warm enough (60°F), about
May 28
Safest planting date (10% frost risk)
May 22
First harvest, roughly
July 17 to August 20

From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 1,164 ZIP codes in zone 4b, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for green beans.

Frost risk in zone 4b

Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 4b, the typical last frost ranges from about May 1 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 25 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from September 22 to October 8. For a typical place in the zone:

  • April 26Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
  • May 8Typical: frost after this date in half of years
  • May 22Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

Green Beans are killed by frost, so if you want to be safe, plant out after the safe date rather than the typical one, or be ready to cover plants on a cold night.

Your dates for green beans

Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant green beans where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.

Enter your ZIP code

Green Beans in zone 4b cities

CityTypical last frostPlantFall
Rochester, MNApr 30May 23 to Jun 6—
Duluth, MNMay 6Jun 21 to Jul 5—
Lakeville, MNMay 2May 24 to Jun 7—
St. Cloud, MNMay 7May 27 to Jun 10—
Eau Claire, WIMay 8May 24 to Jun 7—
Great Falls, MTMay 19Jun 19 to Jul 3—

How to grow green beansAll zonesGreen Beans in zone 4aGreen Beans in zone 5aAbout zone 4b

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