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When to Plant Green Beans in Martin 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.

Martin County, Texas is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 25 and the first fall frost is November 12, giving you a growing season of approximately 232 days.

At an elevation of 4,922 feet, Martin County receives approximately 50.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 100ยฐF, so Green Beans may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Green Beans will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Green Beans root diseases.

Martin County, TX (Zone 7b) Long season
232 days
Last Spring Frost March 25
232 growing days
First Fall Frost November 12

Martin County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

7.2-8.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (118 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 17 🍅 Harvest: May 12 – Jul 7
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (120 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 25 🍅 Harvest: May 20 – Jul 15
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (114 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 13 🍅 Harvest: Jun 8 – Aug 3

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 Martin County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (7.2โ€“8.7) is more alkaline than Green Beans prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Martin County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Green Beans will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.0%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting Green Beans.

How to Plant Green Beans

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Green Beans

5
successive plantings in your 232-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 08 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

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

Water stress score is 8/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

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€” 2.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 3.9" 2.4" 1.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Apr 3.9" 1.9" 2" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
May 3.9" 0.9" 3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 3.9" 1.4" 2.5" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 3.9" 9.2" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3.9" 10.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3.9" 7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3.9" 4.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov 3.9" 2.8" 1.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Dec โ€” 3.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Marโ€“Nov in Martin 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 ~1,438 GDD — county provides 5,800 GDD Excellent fit

Green Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Martin County, TX

Green Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow April 1 Apr 1 โ€“ Apr 22
Harvest May 27 May 27 โ€“ Jul 22

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 Harvest
June Harvest
July Harvest
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 Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

50โ€“65 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: too_alkaline

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

232 days in Martin County

Growing Tips for Green Beans in Martin County

Direct sow Green Beans outdoors after March 25 in Martin County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Martin County dries quickly โ€” mulch Green Beans with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

With summer highs reaching 100ยฐF in Martin County, provide afternoon shade for Green Beans and water deeply in the morning.

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 Martin County, TX?

Martin County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 25. Plan your Green Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Martin County, TX?

Martin County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 25 and first fall frost is November 12.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Martin County gardeners in Zone 7b 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 Martin County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.