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When to Plant Wax Beans in Klamath County, OR

Klamath County, Oregon Zone 6b May

May to-do list for Klamath County, Oregon

Your Klamath County, Oregon garden is entering a new phase. Here's what's on the schedule for May and why each task matters now.

Avg. last frost June 13
Avg. first frost September 21
Soil temp (4") 63°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.4 hrs
Get ahead of June
  • Direct-sowing: 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.

Klamath County, Oregon is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is June 13 and the first fall frost is September 21, giving you a growing season of approximately 100 days.

At an elevation of 142 feet, Klamath County receives approximately 48.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 83°F, so choose short-season varieties of Wax Beans to ensure they mature before fall.

Klamath County, OR (Zone 6b) Short season
100 days
Last Spring Frost June 13
100 growing days
First Fall Frost September 21

Klamath County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.5-6.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: May 30 🍅 Harvest: Jul 25 – Sep 19
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Jun 13 🍅 Harvest: Aug 8 – Oct 3
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (2 days to spare)
Transplant: Jun 26 🍅 Harvest: Aug 21 – Oct 16

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 Klamath County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.5–6.3) is more acidic than Wax Beans prefers (6.0–7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Wax Beans.

Organic Matter

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

How to Plant Wax Beans

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

Succession Planting Wax Beans

2
successive plantings in your 100-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 18 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

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

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 7.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 5.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 3.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Jun 4.3" 1.8" 2.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 0.9" 3.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 0.8" 3.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 2.1" 2.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 4.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 7.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 6.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Jun–Sep in Klamath 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 ~704 GDD — county provides 1,225 GDD Excellent fit

Wax Beans Planting Timeline — Klamath County, OR

Wax Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow June 20 Jun 20 – Jul 11
Harvest August 15 Aug 15 – Oct 10

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

50–65 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

100 days in Klamath County

Growing Tips for Wax Beans in Klamath County

Direct sow Wax Beans outdoors after June 13 in Klamath 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 Klamath County, OR?

Klamath County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of June 13. Plan your Wax Beans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Klamath County, OR?

Klamath County, Oregon is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is June 13 and first fall frost is September 21.

🌱

Your Klamath County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Klamath County (Zone 6b). 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 Klamath County, OR. 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.