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When to Plant Pole Beans in Lincoln County, MN

Lincoln County, Minnesota Zone 4b May

This month in Lincoln County, Minnesota

Your garden in Lincoln County, Minnesota is working on a schedule, even when you're not. Here's where you should be this May.

Avg. last frost May 4
Avg. first frost October 2
Soil temp (4") 52°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.6 hrs
  1. Harden off and plant pole beans

    Frost risk is low now in Lincoln County, Minnesota. If you've been covering beds overnight, you can stop.

  2. Put pole beans seeds straight in the ground

    Sow every 2 weeks for a continuous harvest. A single big planting means a single big glut.

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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.

Lincoln County, Minnesota is in USDA Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 4 and the first fall frost is October 2, giving you a growing season of approximately 151 days.

At an elevation of 1,092 feet, Lincoln County receives approximately 41.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 82°F, so choose short-season varieties of Pole Beans to ensure they mature before fall.

Lincoln County, MN (Zone 4b) Moderate season
151 days
Last Spring Frost May 4
151 growing days
First Fall Frost October 2

Lincoln County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.7-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (15 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 24 Transplant: May 19 🍅 Harvest: Jul 14 – Sep 8
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (18 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 2 Transplant: May 25 🍅 Harvest: Jul 20 – Sep 14
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (18 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 13 Transplant: Jun 5 🍅 Harvest: Jul 31 – Sep 25

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 Lincoln County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.7–7.2) overlaps with Pole Beans's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (5.1%) — Pole Beans will thrive.

How to Plant Pole Beans

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

Succession Planting Pole Beans

3
successive plantings in your 151-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 24 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.2″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — 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 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Nov 3.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Pole Beans needs ~719 GDD — county provides 1,736 GDD Excellent fit

Pole Beans Planting Timeline — Lincoln County, MN

Pole Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 2 Mar 2 – Mar 16
Transplant Outdoors May 25 May 25 – Jun 8
Direct Sow May 18 May 18 – Jun 8
Harvest July 20 Jul 20 – Sep 14

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

55–70 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 4b

📆 Growing Season

151 days in Lincoln County

Growing Tips for Pole Beans in Lincoln County

Direct sow Pole Beans outdoors after May 04 in Lincoln 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 Lincoln County, MN?

Lincoln County is in Zone 4b with an average last frost of May 4. Plan your Pole Beans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lincoln County, MN?

Lincoln County, Minnesota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4b. The average last spring frost is May 4 and first fall frost is October 2.

🌱

Your Lincoln County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Lincoln County (Zone 4b). 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 Lincoln County, MN. 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.