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When to Plant Scarlet Runner Beans in Sevier County, AR

Scarlet runner beans are ornamental and edible climbing beans with vivid red flowers that attract hummingbirds. Both the young pods and mature beans are edible.

Sevier County, Arkansas is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 25 and the first fall frost is November 6, giving you a growing season of approximately 226 days.

At an elevation of 845 feet, Sevier County receives approximately 49.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 89ยฐF, providing good warmth for Scarlet Runner Beans during the growing season.

Sevier County, AR (Zone 7b) Long season
226 days
Last Spring Frost March 25
226 growing days
First Fall Frost November 6

Sevier County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.4-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (117 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 26 Transplant: Mar 30 🍅 Harvest: Jun 1 – Jul 6
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (114 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 4 Transplant: Apr 8 🍅 Harvest: Jun 10 – Jul 15
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (112 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 25 Transplant: Apr 29 🍅 Harvest: Jul 1 – Aug 5

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 Sevier County

How your county's soil matches Scarlet Runner Beans's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.4โ€“6.5) is more acidic than Scarlet Runner Beans prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Scarlet Runner Beans.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.6%). Annual compost additions will help Scarlet Runner Beans.

How to Plant Scarlet Runner Beans

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

Succession Planting Scarlet Runner Beans

4
successive plantings in your 226-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 18 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/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 Scarlet Runner Beans

Scarlet Runner 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 Scarlet Runner Beans Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 3.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 4.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 4.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Apr 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 4.3" 5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 4.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 5.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Dec โ€” 3.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Scarlet Runner 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.

Scarlet Runner Beans needs ~1,172 GDD — county provides 3,785 GDD Excellent fit

Scarlet Runner Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Sevier County, AR

Scarlet Runner Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 4 Feb 4 โ€“ Feb 18
Transplant Outdoors April 8 Apr 8 โ€“ Apr 22
Direct Sow April 1 Apr 1 โ€“ Apr 22
Harvest June 10 Jun 10 โ€“ Jul 15

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors
March โ€”
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May โ€”
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

1"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

60โ€“80 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: too_acidic

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

226 days in Sevier County

Growing Tips for Scarlet Runner Beans in Sevier County

Direct sow Scarlet Runner Beans outdoors after March 25 in Sevier County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

General growing tips

Provide tall trellising for vigorous vines. Direct sow after frost. Harvest pods young for snap beans or let mature for shelling beans. Tubers are perennial in mild climates.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Onion
  • Garlic

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Scarlet Runner Beans in Sevier County, AR?

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

What planting zone is Sevier County, AR?

Sevier County, Arkansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 25 and first fall frost is November 6.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Sevier County gardeners in Zone 7b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Sevier County, AR. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.