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When to Plant Green Beans in Bingham 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.

Bingham County, Idaho is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 21 and the first fall frost is September 21, giving you a growing season of approximately 123 days.

At an elevation of 8,345 feet, Bingham County receives approximately 24.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 86ยฐF, providing good warmth for Green Beans during the growing season.

Bingham County, ID (Zone 5a) Short season
123 days
Last Spring Frost May 21
123 growing days
First Fall Frost September 21

Bingham County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (10 days to spare)
Transplant: May 10 🍅 Harvest: Jul 5 – Aug 30
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (11 days to spare)
Transplant: May 21 🍅 Harvest: Jul 16 – Sep 10
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (6 days to spare)
Transplant: Jun 16 🍅 Harvest: Aug 11 – Oct 6

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 Bingham County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3โ€“7.7) overlaps with Green Beans's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.6%). 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 123-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 18 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 83 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€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 2.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May 3.9" 2.5" 1.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 3.9" 1.5" 2.4" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 3.9" 2.3" 1.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 3.9" 2.5" 1.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 3.9" 2.3" 1.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct โ€” 2.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Nov โ€” 1.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 1.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mayโ€“Sep in Bingham 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 ~834 GDD — county provides 1,783 GDD Excellent fit

Green Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Bingham County, ID

Green Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow May 28 May 28 โ€“ Jun 18
Harvest July 23 Jul 23 โ€“ Sep 17

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April โ€”
May Direct Sow
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 Only during dry spells

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

50โ€“65 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 5a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

123 days in Bingham County

Growing Tips for Green Beans in Bingham County

Direct sow Green Beans outdoors after May 21 in Bingham 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.

Bingham County receives only 24" of rain annually. Green Beans needs consistent moisture โ€” install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

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 Bingham 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 Bingham County, ID?

Bingham County is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of May 21. Plan your Green Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Bingham County, ID?

Bingham County, Idaho is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 21 and first fall frost is September 21.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Bingham County gardeners in Zone 5a 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 Bingham County, ID. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.