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When to Plant Pole Beans in Millard County, UT

Millard County, Utah Zone 6a May

May in Millard County, Utah — your action list

We've pulled the most time-sensitive tasks for Millard County, Utah this May and put them front and centre. Tackle them in order.

Avg. last frost May 16
Avg. first frost September 30
Soil temp (4") 38°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.1 hrs
  1. Time to transplant pole beans

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

  2. Sow pole beans where they'll grow

    Succession planting is the secret here. Put in a row now, another in 2 weeks, a third in 4.

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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.

Millard County, Utah is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 16 and the first fall frost is September 30, giving you a growing season of approximately 137 days.

At an elevation of 6,525 feet, Millard County receives approximately 24 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84°F, so choose short-season varieties of Pole Beans to ensure they mature before fall.

Millard County, UT (Zone 6a) Short season
137 days
Last Spring Frost May 16
137 growing days
First Fall Frost September 30
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Millard County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (11 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 12 Transplant: May 21 🍅 Harvest: Jul 16 – Sep 10
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (11 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 21 Transplant: May 30 🍅 Harvest: Jul 25 – Sep 19
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (5 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 14 Transplant: Jun 23 🍅 Harvest: Aug 18 – Oct 13

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 Millard County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–8.0) is more alkaline than Pole Beans prefers (6.0–7.0). Add sulfur or peat moss to lower pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.3%). Annual compost additions will help Pole Beans.

How to Plant Pole Beans

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

Succession Planting Pole Beans

2
successive plantings in your 137-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 22 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 387 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 — 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 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 1.7" 2.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 2.1" 2.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 2.2" 2.1" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2" 2.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Millard 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 ~812 GDD — county provides 1,781 GDD Excellent fit

Pole Beans Planting Timeline — Millard County, UT

Pole Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 21 Mar 21 – Apr 4
Transplant Outdoors May 30 May 30 – Jun 13
Direct Sow May 23 May 23 – Jun 13
Harvest July 25 Jul 25 – Sep 19

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

55–70 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_alkaline

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

📆 Growing Season

137 days in Millard County

Growing Tips for Pole Beans in Millard County

Direct sow Pole Beans outdoors after May 16 in Millard 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.

Millard County receives only 24" of rain annually. Pole Beans needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

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 Millard County, UT?

Millard County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of May 16. Plan your Pole Beans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Millard County, UT?

Millard County, Utah is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is May 16 and first fall frost is September 30.

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Your Millard County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Millard 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 Millard County, UT. 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.