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When to Plant Green Beans in Washburn County, WI

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.

Washburn County, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 3b. The average last spring frost is May 17 and the first fall frost is September 25, giving you a growing season of approximately 131 days.

At an elevation of 954 feet, Washburn County receives approximately 32.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 79ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Green Beans to ensure they mature before fall.

Washburn County, WI (Zone 3b) Short season
131 days
Last Spring Frost May 17
131 growing days
First Fall Frost September 25

Washburn County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.1-6.9

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (11 days to spare)
Transplant: May 14 🍅 Harvest: Jul 9 – Sep 3
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (19 days to spare)
Transplant: May 17 🍅 Harvest: Jul 12 – Sep 6
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (18 days to spare)
Transplant: Jun 1 🍅 Harvest: Jul 27 – Sep 21

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
1.1″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Green Beans needs ~532 GDD — county provides 1,211 GDD Excellent fit

Green Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Washburn County, WI

Green Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow May 31 May 31 โ€“ Jun 21
Harvest July 26 Jul 26 โ€“ Sep 20

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 3b

Growing Season

131 days

Growing Tips for Washburn 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 Washburn County, WI?

Washburn County is in Zone 3b with an average last frost of May 17. Plan your Green Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Washburn County, WI?

Washburn County, Wisconsin is in USDA Hardiness Zone 3b. The average last spring frost is May 17 and first fall frost is September 25.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Washburn County gardeners in Zone 3b 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 Washburn County, WI. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.