Blog

When to Plant Green Beans in Caribou 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.

Caribou County, Idaho is in USDA Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 30 and the first fall frost is September 16, giving you a growing season of approximately 109 days.

At an elevation of 6,562 feet, Caribou County receives approximately 15.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 81ยฐF, 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.

Caribou County, ID (Zone 4b) Short season
109 days
Last Spring Frost May 30
109 growing days
First Fall Frost September 16

Caribou County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.8-8.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (1 days to spare)
Transplant: May 18 🍅 Harvest: Jul 13 – Sep 7
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: May 30 🍅 Harvest: Jul 25 – Sep 19
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (2 days to spare)
Transplant: Jun 17 🍅 Harvest: Aug 12 – Oct 7

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
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 478 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Green Beans needs ~618 GDD — county provides 1,171 GDD Excellent fit

Green Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Caribou County, ID

Green Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow June 13 Jun 13 โ€“ Jul 4
Harvest August 8 Aug 8 โ€“ Oct 3

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 Direct Sow
August Harvest
September Harvest
October Harvest
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

109 days

Growing Tips for Caribou 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 Caribou County, ID?

Caribou County is in Zone 4b with an average last frost of May 30. Plan your Green Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Caribou County, ID?

Caribou County, Idaho is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 30 and first fall frost is September 16.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Caribou County gardeners in Zone 4b 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 Caribou County, ID. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.