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When to Plant Green Beans in Clark County, IL

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.

Clark County, Illinois is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 14 and the first fall frost is October 17, giving you a growing season of approximately 186 days.

At an elevation of 591 feet, Clark County receives approximately 41.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Green Beans during the growing season.

Clark County, IL (Zone 6a) Moderate season
186 days
Last Spring Frost April 14
186 growing days
First Fall Frost October 17

Clark County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.2-6.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (74 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 9 🍅 Harvest: Jun 4 – Jul 30
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (74 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 14 🍅 Harvest: Jun 9 – Aug 4
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (74 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 28 🍅 Harvest: Jun 23 – Aug 18

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
0.9″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 129 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Green Beans needs ~1,006 GDD — county provides 3,255 GDD Excellent fit

Green Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Clark County, IL

Green Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow April 21 Apr 21 โ€“ May 12
Harvest June 16 Jun 16 โ€“ Aug 11

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March โ€”
April Direct Sow
May Direct Sow
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Harvest
September โ€”
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 6a

Growing Season

186 days

Growing Tips for Clark 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 Clark County, IL?

Clark County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 14. Plan your Green Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Clark County, IL?

Clark County, Illinois is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 14 and first fall frost is October 17.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Clark County gardeners in Zone 6a 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 Clark County, IL. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.