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When to Plant Green Beans in Itasca County, MN

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.

Itasca County, Minnesota is in USDA Zone 3a. The average last spring frost is May 10 and the first fall frost is October 1, giving you a growing season of approximately 144 days.

At an elevation of 506 feet, Itasca County receives approximately 40.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 81ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Green Beans to ensure they mature before fall.

Itasca County, MN (Zone 3a) Short season
144 days
Last Spring Frost May 10
144 growing days
First Fall Frost October 1

Itasca County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6-7.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (35 days to spare)
Transplant: May 3 🍅 Harvest: Jun 28 – Aug 23
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (32 days to spare)
Transplant: May 10 🍅 Harvest: Jul 5 – Aug 30
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (30 days to spare)
Transplant: May 27 🍅 Harvest: Jul 22 – Sep 16

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
1.2″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Green Beans needs ~618 GDD — county provides 1,548 GDD Excellent fit

Green Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Itasca County, MN

Green Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow May 24 May 24 โ€“ Jun 14
Harvest July 19 Jul 19 โ€“ Sep 13

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

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 3a

Growing Season

144 days

Growing Tips for Itasca 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 Itasca County, MN?

Itasca County is in Zone 3a with an average last frost of May 10. Plan your Green Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Itasca County, MN?

Itasca County, Minnesota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 3a. The average last spring frost is May 10 and first fall frost is October 1.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Itasca County gardeners in Zone 3a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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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 Itasca County, MN. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.