Blog

When to Plant Green Beans in Newport News City, VA

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.

Newport News City, Virginia is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 22 and the first fall frost is November 17, giving you a growing season of approximately 240 days.

At an elevation of 356 feet, Newport News City receives approximately 41.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Green Beans during the growing season.

Newport News City, VA (Zone 7b) Long season
240 days
Last Spring Frost March 22
240 growing days
First Fall Frost November 17

Newport News City Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (132 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 12 🍅 Harvest: May 7 – Jul 2
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (128 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 22 🍅 Harvest: May 17 – Jul 12
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (127 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 9 🍅 Harvest: Jun 4 – Jul 30

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
0.7″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 581 gal / 100 sq ft
Green Beans needs ~1,006 GDD — county provides 4,200 GDD Excellent fit

Green Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Newport News City, VA

Green Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow March 29 Mar 29 โ€“ Apr 19
Harvest May 24 May 24 โ€“ Jul 19

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Direct Sow
April Direct Sow
May Harvest
June Harvest
July Harvest
August โ€”
September โ€”
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 7b

Growing Season

240 days

Growing Tips for Newport News City

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 Newport News City, VA?

Newport News City is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 22. Plan your Green Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Newport News City, VA?

Newport News City, Virginia is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 22 and first fall frost is November 17.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Newport News City 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 Newport News City, VA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.