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When to Plant Green Beans in Bear Lake County, ID

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.

Bear Lake County, Idaho is in USDA Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 24 and the first fall frost is September 24, giving you a growing season of approximately 123 days.

At an elevation of 5,220 feet, Bear Lake County receives approximately 18.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 83ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Green Beans to ensure they mature before fall. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Green Beans successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Bear Lake County, ID (Zone 4b) Short season
123 days
Last Spring Frost May 24
123 growing days
First Fall Frost September 24

Bear Lake County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-8.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (4 days to spare)
Transplant: May 6 🍅 Harvest: Jul 1 – Aug 26
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (11 days to spare)
Transplant: May 24 🍅 Harvest: Jul 19 – Sep 13
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (8 days to spare)
Transplant: Jun 22 🍅 Harvest: Aug 17 – Oct 12

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.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 479 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Green Beans needs ~704 GDD — county provides 1,506 GDD Excellent fit

Green Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Bear Lake County, ID

Green Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow June 7 Jun 7 โ€“ Jun 28
Harvest August 2 Aug 2 โ€“ Sep 27

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 โ€”
August Harvest
September Harvest
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

50โ€“65 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 4b

Growing Season

123 days

Growing Tips for Bear Lake County

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.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Fennel

Level Up Your Garden

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 Bear Lake County, ID?

Bear Lake County is in Zone 4b with an average last frost of May 24. Plan your Green Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Bear Lake County, ID?

Bear Lake County, Idaho is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 24 and first fall frost is September 24.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Bear Lake County gardeners in Zone 4b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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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 Bear Lake County, ID. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.