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When to Plant Pole Beans in Hendry County, FL

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.

Hendry County, Florida is in USDA Zone 10a. The average last spring frost is January 14 and the first fall frost is April 15, giving you a growing season of approximately 91 days.

At an elevation of 403 feet, Hendry County receives approximately 55.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sand soil. Summer highs average 89ยฐF, providing good warmth for Pole Beans during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Pole Beans will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Pole Beans root diseases.

Hendry County, FL (Zone 10a) Very short season
91 days
Last Spring Frost January 14
91 growing days
First Fall Frost April 15

Hendry County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sand

Soil pH

5-5.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (159 days to spare)
Start indoors: Nov 29 Transplant: Jan 17 🍅 Harvest: Mar 14 – May 9
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (155 days to spare)
Start indoors: Dec 3 Transplant: Jan 21 🍅 Harvest: Mar 18 – May 13
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (129 days to spare)
Start indoors: Dec 29 Transplant: Feb 16 🍅 Harvest: Apr 13 – Jun 8

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 Hendry County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.0โ€“5.8) is more acidic than Pole Beans prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Hendry County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Pole Beans will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Pole Beans.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.7%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting Pole Beans.

How to Plant Pole Beans

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

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.8″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 2,560 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 4.3" 2.6" 1.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Feb 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Mar 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Apr 4.3" 2.6" 1.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 4.3" 7.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 9.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 6.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 4.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov โ€” 2.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Janโ€“Oct in Hendry 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 ~1,047 GDD — county provides 6,113 GDD Excellent fit

Pole Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Hendry County, FL

Pole Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors December 3 Dec 3 โ€“ Dec 17
Transplant Outdoors January 21 Jan 21 โ€“ Feb 4
Direct Sow January 14 Jan 14 โ€“ Feb 4
Harvest March 18 Mar 18 โ€“ May 13

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1"/week ยท 2-3 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

55โ€“70 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: too_acidic

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 10a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

91 days in Hendry County

Growing Tips for Pole Beans in Hendry County

Direct sow Pole Beans outdoors after January 14 in Hendry County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Hendry County dries quickly โ€” mulch Pole Beans with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

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 Hendry County, FL?

Hendry County is in Zone 10a with an average last frost of January 14. Plan your Pole Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Hendry County, FL?

Hendry County, Florida is in USDA Hardiness Zone 10a. The average last spring frost is January 14 and first fall frost is .

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Hendry County gardeners in Zone 10a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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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 Hendry County, FL. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.