Blog

When to Plant Green Beans in Orange County, VT

Green Beans

Green beans are a warm-season staple available as bush or pole types. Bush beans produce a concentrated harvest while pole beans provide a longer picking season.

Orange County, Vermont is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 12 and the first fall frost is October 7, giving you a growing season of approximately 148 days.

At an elevation of 604 feet, Orange County receives approximately 38.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 82°F, so choose short-season varieties of Green Beans to ensure they mature before fall.

Orange County, VT (Zone 5a) Short season
148 days
Last Spring Frost May 12
148 growing days
First Fall Frost October 7

Orange County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.0-7.0

Drainage

Well Drained

Green Beans Planting Timeline — Orange County, VT

Green Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow May 19 May 19 – Jun 9
Harvest July 14 Jul 14 – Sep 8

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

Moderate — regular watering

📅 Days to Maturity

50–65 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: N/A

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5a

📆 Growing Season

148 days in Orange County

Growing Tips for Orange County

Direct sow after last frost when soil is warm. Provide sturdy supports for pole varieties. Pick beans regularly when young and tender to encourage continued production.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Fennel

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

🌾 Save Your Own Green Beans Seeds
Life Cycle Annual
Pollination Self-Pollinating
How to Collect Allow pods to dry fully on vine until they rattle.
Storage Store airtight; viable 4 years at 35°F, under 45% humidity.

Avoid harvesting during damp weather. Isolate 25 ft between varieties.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Green Beans in Orange County, VT?

Orange County is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of May 12. Plan your Green Beans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Orange County, VT?

Orange County, Vermont is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 12 and first fall frost is October 7.

🌱

Your Orange County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Orange County (Zone 5a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Orange County, VT. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.