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When to Plant Green Beans in Teton County, ID

Teton County, Idaho Zone 5a May

This month in Teton County, Idaho

Here's what deserves your attention in Teton County, Idaho this month. Everything below is tailored to Zone 5a and timed around your local frost dates.

Avg. last frost May 31
Avg. first frost September 11
Soil temp (4") 35°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.5 hrs
Coming up in June — start thinking about
  • Direct-sowing: green beans

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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.

Teton County, Idaho is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 31 and the first fall frost is September 11, giving you a growing season of approximately 103 days.

At an elevation of 6,709 feet, Teton County receives approximately 15.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 83°F, so choose short-season varieties of Green Beans to ensure they mature before fall. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Green Beans successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Teton County, ID (Zone 5a) Short season
103 days
Last Spring Frost May 31
103 growing days
First Fall Frost September 11

Teton County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-8.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: May 21 🍅 Harvest: Jul 16 – Sep 10
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: May 31 🍅 Harvest: Jul 26 – Sep 20
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Jun 21 🍅 Harvest: Aug 16 – Oct 11

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 Teton County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–8.4) is more alkaline than Green Beans prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Teton County is excellent for Green Beans — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.7%). Annual compost additions will help Green Beans.

How to Plant Green Beans

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

Succession Planting Green Beans

2
successive plantings in your 103-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 08 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 313 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Green Beans

Green Beans needs approximately 0.9 inches of water per week (3.9" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Green Beans Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3.9" 1.9" 2" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 3.9" 1.1" 2.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 3.9" 1.4" 2.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 3.9" 1.4" 2.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 3.9" 1.2" 2.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Teton County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Green 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" — every day above 50°F 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.

Green Beans needs ~704 GDD — county provides 1,261 GDD Excellent fit

Green Beans Planting Timeline — Teton County, ID

Green Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow June 7 Jun 7 – Jun 28
Harvest August 2 Aug 2 – Sep 27

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April
May
June Direct Sow
July
August Harvest
September Harvest
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.9"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

50–65 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5a

📆 Growing Season

103 days in Teton County

Growing Tips for Green Beans in Teton County

Direct sow Green Beans outdoors after May 31 in Teton County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

Teton County receives only 15" of rain annually. Green Beans needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

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.

Recommended Green Beans Varieties for Teton County

Bush beans that mature quickly for short seasons

Provider (50d) Contender (48d) Royal Burgundy (55d)

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Fennel

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

🌾 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 35°F, under 45% humidity.

Avoid harvesting during damp weather. Isolate 25 ft between varieties.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Green Beans in Teton County, ID?

Teton County is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of May 31. Plan your Green Beans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Teton County, ID?

Teton County, Idaho is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 31 and first fall frost is September 11.

🌱

Your Teton County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Teton County (Zone 5a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

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

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.