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When to Plant Scarlet Runner Beans in Harvey County, KS

Harvey County, Kansas Zone 6a April

This month in Harvey County, Kansas

Your garden in Harvey County, Kansas is working on a schedule, even when you're not. Here's where you should be this April.

Avg. last frost April 15
Avg. first frost October 24
Soil temp (4") 53°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 13 hrs
  1. Get scarlet runner beans in the ground

    Water the tray well an hour before you transplant. Roots slide out cleanly and settle in faster.

  2. Scatter scarlet runner beans into prepared beds

    Mark the row. Birds and stray feet both have opinions about unmarked beds.

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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.

Harvey County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 15 and the first fall frost is October 24, giving you a growing season of approximately 192 days.

At an elevation of 872 feet, Harvey County receives approximately 23.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 91°F, providing good warmth for Scarlet Runner Beans during the growing season.

Harvey County, KS (Zone 6a) Moderate season
192 days
Last Spring Frost April 15
192 growing days
First Fall Frost October 24

Harvey County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (78 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 12 Transplant: Apr 23 🍅 Harvest: Jun 25 – Jul 30
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (80 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 18 Transplant: Apr 29 🍅 Harvest: Jul 1 – Aug 5
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (79 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 2 Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Jul 13 – Aug 17

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 Harvey County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.1) overlaps with Scarlet Runner Beans's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.0%) — Scarlet Runner Beans will thrive.

How to Plant Scarlet Runner Beans

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

Succession Planting Scarlet Runner Beans

3
successive plantings in your 192-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 05 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
0.6″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,010 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — 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 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 2.6" 1.7" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 3.9" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.3" 2" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 1.5" 2.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Harvey County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — 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" — 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.

Scarlet Runner Beans needs ~1,278 GDD — county provides 3,504 GDD Excellent fit

Scarlet Runner Beans Planting Timeline — Harvey County, KS

Scarlet Runner Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 18 Feb 18 – Mar 4
Transplant Outdoors April 29 Apr 29 – May 13
Direct Sow April 22 Apr 22 – May 13
Harvest July 1 Jul 1 – Aug 5

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

60–80 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

192 days in Harvey County

Growing Tips for Scarlet Runner Beans in Harvey County

Direct sow Scarlet Runner Beans outdoors after April 15 in Harvey 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.

Harvey County receives only 23" of rain annually. Scarlet Runner Beans needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

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 Harvey County, KS?

Harvey County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 15. Plan your Scarlet Runner Beans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Harvey County, KS?

Harvey County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 15 and first fall frost is October 24.

🌱

Your Harvey County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Harvey County (Zone 6a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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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 Harvey County, KS. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.

Sources & credits

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