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When to Plant Green Beans in Frio County, TX

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.

Frio County, Texas is in USDA Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is February 26 and the first fall frost is November 26, giving you a growing season of approximately 273 days.

At an elevation of 3,892 feet, Frio County receives approximately 51 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 93ยฐF, providing good warmth for Green Beans during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Green Beans root diseases.

Frio County, TX (Zone 8b) Year-round
273 days
Last Spring Frost February 26
273 growing days
First Fall Frost November 26

Frio County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.4-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (166 days to spare)
Transplant: Feb 13 🍅 Harvest: Apr 10 – Jun 5
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (161 days to spare)
Transplant: Feb 26 🍅 Harvest: Apr 23 – Jun 18
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (154 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 21 🍅 Harvest: May 16 – Jul 11

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 Frio County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.4โ€“7.2) overlaps with Green Beans's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Green Beans.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.2%). 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

6
successive plantings in your 273-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 22 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 947 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€” 1.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb 3.9" 1.9" 2" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Mar 3.9" 3.6" 0.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Apr 3.9" 4.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 3.9" 7.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3.9" 9.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3.9" 6.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3.9" 5.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3.9" 4.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3.9" 3.4" 0.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 3.9" 1.6" 2.3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Dec โ€” 1.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Febโ€“Nov in Frio 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 ~1,136 GDD — county provides 5,411 GDD Excellent fit

Green Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Frio County, TX

Green Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow March 5 Mar 5 โ€“ Mar 26
Harvest April 30 Apr 30 โ€“ Jun 25

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Direct Sow
April Harvest
May Harvest
June Harvest
July โ€”
August โ€”
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 1-2 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

50โ€“65 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 8b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

273 days in Frio County

Growing Tips for Green Beans in Frio County

Direct sow Green Beans outdoors after February 26 in Frio 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 Frio County, TX?

Frio County is in Zone 8b with an average last frost of February 26. Plan your Green Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Frio County, TX?

Frio County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is February 26 and first fall frost is November 26.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Frio County gardeners in Zone 8b 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 Frio County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.