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When to Plant Pole Beans in Taylor County, WI

Pole beans are climbing varieties of green beans that produce over a much longer season than bush types. They require trellising but yield more per square foot.

Taylor County, Wisconsin is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 16 and the first fall frost is September 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 136 days.

At an elevation of 632 feet, Taylor County receives approximately 33.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 80ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Pole Beans to ensure they mature before fall.

Taylor County, WI (Zone 4a) Short season
136 days
Last Spring Frost May 16
136 growing days
First Fall Frost September 29

Taylor County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.9-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (1 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 9 Transplant: Jun 1 🍅 Harvest: Jul 27 – Sep 21
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (3 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 14 Transplant: Jun 6 🍅 Harvest: Aug 1 – Sep 26
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (7 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 24 Transplant: Jun 16 🍅 Harvest: Aug 11 – Oct 6

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 Taylor County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.9โ€“6.7) overlaps with Pole Beans's range (6.0โ€“7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.2%) โ€” Pole Beans will thrive.

How to Plant Pole Beans

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

Succession Planting Pole Beans

2
successive plantings in your 136-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 21 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/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

Monthly Watering Guide for Pole Beans

Pole Beans needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Pole Beans Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 1.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 1.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 4.3" 3.8" 0.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jul 4.3" 4" 0.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.6" 1.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct โ€” 3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Nov โ€” 2.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 1.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mayโ€“Sep in Taylor County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Pole 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.

Pole Beans needs ~625 GDD — county provides 1,360 GDD Excellent fit

Pole Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Taylor County, WI

Pole Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 14 Mar 14 โ€“ Mar 28
Transplant Outdoors June 6 Jun 6 โ€“ Jun 20
Direct Sow May 30 May 30 โ€“ Jun 20
Harvest August 1 Aug 1 โ€“ Sep 26

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February โ€”
March Start Indoors
April โ€”
May Direct Sow
June Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
July โ€”
August Harvest
September Harvest
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

55โ€“70 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 4a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

136 days in Taylor County

Growing Tips for Pole Beans in Taylor County

Direct sow Pole Beans outdoors after May 16 in Taylor County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Pole Beans in this region include bean beetles and aphids. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Provide sturdy 6-8 foot poles, tepees, or trellises. Direct sow after last frost. Pick regularly to encourage continued production. Beans fix nitrogen benefiting following crops.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Fennel

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Pole Beans in Taylor County, WI?

Taylor County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 16. Plan your Pole Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Taylor County, WI?

Taylor County, Wisconsin is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 16 and first fall frost is September 29.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Taylor County gardeners in Zone 4a 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 Taylor County, WI. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.