When to Plant Beans: Soil Temperature, Sowing Dates and Succession

Beans are one of the easiest crops to grow from seed, but they are picky about one thing: cold, wet soil. Seeds planted too early can rot before they come up. Wait for warm soil and you can keep sowing for much of the summer.

Step 1: wait for warm soil

University of Minnesota Extension says to plant beans once the soil has warmed, around late May or early June in Minnesota, and warns that seeds in cold soil are likely to rot. University of Maryland Extension says beans need soil of at least 60°F to germinate, and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension notes that warm-season crops such as beans grow poorly or not at all when the soil is below 65°F. Texas A&M also says to plant only after all danger of frost has passed, into soil that is moist enough for seeds to sprout quickly.

Step 2: dates by last frost

Our planting calendar gives snap beans a direct-sow window from your average last frost to about 7 weeks after. Start at the beginning of the window once the soil is warm, then keep sowing bush beans every couple of weeks until the end of it, or later if your summer is long (see Step 5).

Regional examples from extension sources: in central Maryland (last frost around April 15), UMD lists snap beans from May through the first week of August and lima beans from mid-May to mid-July. University of Florida IFAS lists bean seeds for March to April (and August to September) in North Florida, February to April (and August to September) in Central Florida, and September through April in South Florida.

Step 3: bush or pole beans?

Both types skip the indoor start. Beans sprout quickly in warm soil and are almost always sown where they will grow.

Step 4: keep sowing for a longer harvest

A single planting of bush beans bears heavily for a few weeks and then tapers off; UMD notes bush beans slow after 3 to 4 weeks of harvest. UMN suggests planting bush beans every two weeks until early August in Minnesota, which gives a steady supply instead of one big glut. Our succession planting guide shows how to plan rounds for other crops too.

Step 5: fall beans in hot-summer areas

In the South, beans often stop setting pods in the hottest part of summer, and a late-summer sowing gives a fall crop. Texas A&M says to plant green beans 10 to 12 weeks before the first expected frost. Average fall planting dates for snap bush beans by Texas gardening region:

Where beans go in the garden

Beans are legumes and are listed as companions for corn, cucumbers, squash and potatoes, but extension lists suggest keeping them away from onions and garlic. See what to plant with beans for the full list, the Three Sisters garden for pole beans on corn, and vertical vegetable gardening for trellis ideas.

Frequently asked questions

When should I plant green beans?

After your last spring frost, once the soil has warmed to at least 60°F (UMD), ideally 65°F or warmer (Texas A&M). In many gardens that is from the frost date to a couple of weeks after.

What happens if I plant beans too early?

Seeds in cold, wet soil are slow to sprout and likely to rot, UMN warns. Waiting a week or two for warmer soil usually gives a better stand.

How often should I plant bush beans?

About every 2 weeks, UMN suggests, until mid-summer (early August in Minnesota). Pole beans need only one sowing because they keep bearing until frost.

Should I start beans indoors?

Usually not. Beans sprout quickly in warm soil and are almost always sown directly where they will grow.

When should I plant fall beans?

Texas A&M says 10 to 12 weeks before your first expected frost. Its Texas fall dates for snap bush beans run from July 15 in the coldest region to October 1 in the warmest.

When do I plant fava beans?

Early in spring, like peas. Fava beans are a cool-season crop, unlike snap beans (UMN).