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When to Plant Wax Beans in Grant County, ND

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.

Grant County, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 14 and the first fall frost is September 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 137 days.

At an elevation of 757 feet, Grant County receives approximately 20.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 84ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Wax Beans to ensure they mature before fall.

Grant County, ND (Zone 4a) Short season
137 days
Last Spring Frost May 14
137 growing days
First Fall Frost September 28

Grant County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (21 days to spare)
Transplant: May 10 🍅 Harvest: Jul 5 – Aug 30
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (25 days to spare)
Transplant: May 14 🍅 Harvest: Jul 9 – Sep 3
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (25 days to spare)
Transplant: May 29 🍅 Harvest: Jul 24 – Sep 18

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.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.8″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 965 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Wax Beans needs ~748 GDD — county provides 1,781 GDD Excellent fit

Wax Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Grant County, ND

Wax Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow May 28 May 28 โ€“ Jun 18
Harvest July 23 Jul 23 โ€“ Sep 17

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

50โ€“65 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 4a

Growing Season

137 days

Growing Tips for Grant County

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

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Wax Beans in Grant County, ND?

Grant County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 14. Plan your Wax Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Grant County, ND?

Grant County, North Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 14 and first fall frost is September 28.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Grant County gardeners in Zone 4a 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 Grant County, ND. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.