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When to Plant Green Beans in Lassen County, CA

Green beans are a warm-season staple available as bush or pole types. Bush beans produce a concentrated harvest while pole beans provide a longer picking season.

Lassen County, California is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 28 and the first fall frost is September 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 124 days.

At an elevation of 1,854 feet, Lassen County receives approximately 43.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Green Beans to ensure they mature before fall.

Lassen County, CA (Zone 6b) Short season
124 days
Last Spring Frost May 28
124 growing days
First Fall Frost September 29

Lassen County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.1-7.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (10 days to spare)
Transplant: May 18 🍅 Harvest: Jul 13 – Sep 7
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (12 days to spare)
Transplant: May 28 🍅 Harvest: Jul 23 – Sep 17
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (16 days to spare)
Transplant: Jun 19 🍅 Harvest: Aug 14 – Oct 9

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Lassen County

How your county's soil matches Green Beans's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.1โ€“7.5) overlaps with Green Beans's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Lassen County is excellent for Green Beans โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.3%). Annual compost additions will help Green Beans.

How to Plant Green Beans

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Green Beans

2
successive plantings in your 124-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 26 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
1.5″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Green Beans

Green Beans needs approximately 0.9 inches of water per week (3.9" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Green Beans Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 9.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 9.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 7.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 3.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May 3.9" 1" 2.9" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 3.9" 0.2" 3.7" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 3.9" 0" 3.9" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Aug 3.9" 0" 3.9" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Sep 3.9" 0.5" 3.4" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct โ€” 1.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Nov โ€” 3.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 6.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mayโ€“Sep in Lassen County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Green Beans Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Green Beans needs ~748 GDD — county provides 1,612 GDD Excellent fit

Green Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Lassen County, CA

Green Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow June 4 Jun 4 โ€“ Jun 25
Harvest July 30 Jul 30 โ€“ Sep 24

Plant 1" deep ยท 15" apart ยท Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April โ€”
May โ€”
June Direct Sow
July Harvest
August Harvest
September Harvest
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

0.9"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

50โ€“65 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

124 days in Lassen County

Growing Tips for Green Beans in Lassen County

Direct sow Green Beans outdoors after May 28 in Lassen County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Green Beans in this region include bean beetles and aphids. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Direct sow after last frost when soil is warm. Provide sturdy supports for pole varieties. Pick beans regularly when young and tender to encourage continued production.

Recommended Green Beans Varieties for Lassen County

Bush beans that mature quickly for short seasons

Provider (50d) Contender (48d) Royal Burgundy (55d)

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Fennel

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

๐ŸŒพ Save Your Own Green Beans Seeds
Life Cycle Annual
Pollination Self-Pollinating
How to Collect Allow pods to dry fully on vine until they rattle.
Storage Store airtight; viable 4 years at 35ยฐF, under 45% humidity.

Avoid harvesting during damp weather. Isolate 25 ft between varieties.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Green Beans in Lassen County, CA?

Lassen County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of May 28. Plan your Green Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lassen County, CA?

Lassen County, California is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 28 and first fall frost is September 29.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Lassen County gardeners in Zone 6b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Lassen County, CA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.