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When to Plant Green Beans in Edwards 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.

Edwards County, Illinois is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost is October 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 202 days.

At an elevation of 1,374 feet, Edwards County receives approximately 35.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 85ยฐF, providing good warmth for Green Beans during the growing season.

Edwards County, IL (Zone 6a) Long season
202 days
Last Spring Frost April 9
202 growing days
First Fall Frost October 28

Edwards County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Monthly Watering Guide for Green Beans

Green Beans needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Green Beans Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 1.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.2" 1.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 4" 0.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 4.3" 5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 3.9" 0.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov โ€” 2.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 2.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Green Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Edwards County, IL

Green Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow April 16 Apr 16 โ€“ May 7
Harvest June 11 Jun 11 โ€“ Aug 6

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

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

50โ€“65 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: N/A

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

202 days in Edwards County

Growing Tips for Edwards 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

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 Edwards County, IL?

Edwards County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 9. Plan your Green Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Edwards County, IL?

Edwards County, Illinois is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 9 and first fall frost is October 28.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Edwards 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 Edwards County, IL. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.