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When to Plant Wax Beans in Hughes County, OK

Hughes County, Oklahoma Zone 7b April

Your April gardening checklist

Welcome to April in Zone 7b. These are the moves that will have the biggest impact on your growing season.

Avg. last frost March 28
Avg. first frost November 2
Soil temp (4") 56°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 12.9 hrs
  1. Scatter wax beans into prepared beds

    Keep the top inch of soil moist until germination — a gentle morning watering for 5–7 days does the job.

A few tasks this April that'll pay off in May
  • First harvests: wax beans

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Wax beans are a yellow-podded variety of snap beans with a buttery, slightly sweeter flavor than green beans. They are easy to spot on the plant for picking.

Hughes County, Oklahoma is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 28 and the first fall frost is November 2, giving you a growing season of approximately 219 days.

At an elevation of 602 feet, Hughes County receives approximately 28.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 90°F, providing good warmth for Wax Beans during the growing season.

Hughes County, OK (Zone 7b) Long season
219 days
Last Spring Frost March 28
219 growing days
First Fall Frost November 2

Hughes County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.4-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (105 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 24 🍅 Harvest: May 19 – Jul 14
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (107 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 28 🍅 Harvest: May 23 – Jul 18
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (110 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: Jun 10 – Aug 5

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 Hughes County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.4–7.6) overlaps with Wax Beans's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.4%). Annual compost additions will help Wax Beans.

How to Plant Wax Beans

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

Succession Planting Wax Beans

5
successive plantings in your 219-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 29 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 1,078 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Wax Beans

Wax 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 Wax Beans Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 1.7" 2.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Apr 4.3" 2.8" 1.5" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 5.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 1.6" 2.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 4.3" 0.8" 3.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Dec 0.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Wax 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.

Wax Beans needs ~1,006 GDD — county provides 3,832 GDD Excellent fit

Wax Beans Planting Timeline — Hughes County, OK

Wax Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow April 4 Apr 4 – Apr 25
Harvest May 30 May 30 – Jul 25

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

50–65 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

219 days in Hughes County

Growing Tips for Wax Beans in Hughes County

Direct sow Wax Beans outdoors after March 28 in Hughes County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

General growing tips

Direct sow after last frost. Pick pods regularly when young and tender. Bush types produce a concentrated harvest while pole types yield longer. Avoid working around wet plants.

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 Wax Beans in Hughes County, OK?

Hughes County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of March 28. Plan your Wax Beans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Hughes County, OK?

Hughes County, Oklahoma is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is March 28 and first fall frost is November 2.

🌱

Your Hughes County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Hughes County (Zone 7b). 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 Hughes County, OK. 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.