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When to Plant Black Beans in White Pine County, NV

Black beans are a warm-season legume producing small, dark, protein-rich beans that are a staple in Latin American and Caribbean cuisines.

White Pine County, Nevada is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is June 12 and the first fall frost is September 12, giving you a growing season of approximately 92 days.

At an elevation of 6,766 feet, White Pine County receives approximately 15 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 91ยฐF, providing good warmth for Black Beans during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Black Beans will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Black Beans successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

White Pine County, NV (Zone 5b) Very short season
92 days
Last Spring Frost June 12
92 growing days
First Fall Frost September 12

White Pine County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

6.7-8.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Jun 7 🍅 Harvest: Sep 6 – Oct 25
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Jun 12 🍅 Harvest: Sep 11 – Oct 30
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Jun 21 🍅 Harvest: Sep 20 – Nov 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 White Pine County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7โ€“8.3) overlaps with Black Beans's range (6.0โ€“7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Black Beans.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (0.8%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting Black Beans.

How to Plant Black Beans

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

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.7″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 604 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 10/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Black Beans

Black 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 Black Beans Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan โ€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 0.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 0.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May โ€” 0.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Jun 4.3" 0.5" 3.8" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.2" 2.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct โ€” 1.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Nov โ€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

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

Black 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.

Black Beans needs ~1,916 GDD — county provides 1,679 GDD May not mature

Black Beans Planting Timeline โ€” White Pine County, NV

Black Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow June 19 Jun 19 โ€“ Jul 10
Harvest September 18 Sep 18 โ€“ Nov 6

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1"/week ยท 2-3 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

90โ€“120 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

92 days in White Pine County

Growing Tips for Black Beans in White Pine County

Direct sow Black Beans outdoors after June 12 in White Pine County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

Your 92.0-day growing season in White Pine County is tight for Black Beans (90.0-120.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

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

White Pine County receives only 15" of rain annually. Black Beans needs consistent moisture โ€” install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

General growing tips

Direct sow after last frost. Provide support for climbing varieties. Allow pods to dry fully on the vine before harvesting. Thresh dried pods by hand or in a pillowcase.

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 Black Beans in White Pine County, NV?

White Pine County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of June 12. Plan your Black Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is White Pine County, NV?

White Pine County, Nevada is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is June 12 and first fall frost is September 12.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help White Pine County gardeners in Zone 5b 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 White Pine County, NV. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.