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When to Plant Green Beans in Campbell County, KY

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.

Campbell County, Kentucky is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 18 and the first fall frost is October 24, giving you a growing season of approximately 189 days.

At an elevation of 3,725 feet, Campbell County receives approximately 47.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 91ยฐF, providing good warmth for Green Beans during the growing season.

Campbell County, KY (Zone 6a) Moderate season
189 days
Last Spring Frost April 18
189 growing days
First Fall Frost October 24

Campbell County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.6-7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (81 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 10 🍅 Harvest: Jun 5 – Jul 31
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (77 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 18 🍅 Harvest: Jun 13 – Aug 8
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (72 days to spare)
Transplant: May 8 🍅 Harvest: Jul 3 – Aug 28

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 Campbell County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.6โ€“7.0) overlaps with Green Beans's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.1%). 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

4
successive plantings in your 189-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 20 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
1.1″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft

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€” 4.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 4.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 3.9" 3.5" 0.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 3.9" 3.5" 0.4" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 3.9" 4.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3.9" 5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3.9" 5.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3.9" 3.1" 0.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 3.9" 3.4" 0.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov โ€” 3.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 4.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Campbell 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 ~1,049 GDD — county provides 3,449 GDD Excellent fit

Green Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Campbell County, KY

Green Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow April 25 Apr 25 โ€“ May 16
Harvest June 20 Jun 20 โ€“ Aug 15

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

0.9"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

50โ€“65 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

189 days in Campbell County

Growing Tips for Green Beans in Campbell County

Direct sow Green Beans outdoors after April 18 in Campbell 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.

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.

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 Campbell County, KY?

Campbell County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 18. Plan your Green Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Campbell County, KY?

Campbell County, Kentucky is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 18 and first fall frost is October 24.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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