Blog

When to Plant Green Beans in Franklin County, WA

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.

Franklin County, Washington is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 13 and the first fall frost is October 23, giving you a growing season of approximately 193 days.

At an elevation of 1,556 feet, Franklin County receives approximately 15.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Green Beans during the growing season. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Green Beans successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Franklin County, WA (Zone 7a) Moderate season
193 days
Last Spring Frost April 13
193 growing days
First Fall Frost October 23

Franklin County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.6-6.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (83 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 1 🍅 Harvest: May 27 – Jul 22
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (81 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 13 🍅 Harvest: Jun 8 – Aug 3
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (69 days to spare)
Transplant: May 10 🍅 Harvest: Jul 5 – Aug 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
0.3″/week
You supply
0.7″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,131 gal / 100 sq ft
Green Beans needs ~1,006 GDD — county provides 3,377 GDD Excellent fit

Green Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Franklin County, WA

Green Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow April 20 Apr 20 โ€“ May 11
Harvest June 15 Jun 15 โ€“ Aug 10

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

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 7a

Growing Season

193 days

Growing Tips for Franklin 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 Franklin County, WA?

Franklin County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 13. Plan your Green Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Franklin County, WA?

Franklin County, Washington is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 13 and first fall frost is October 23.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

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