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When to Plant Wax Beans in Slope 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.

Slope County, North Dakota is in USDA Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost is September 24, giving you a growing season of approximately 132 days.

At an elevation of 1,230 feet, Slope County receives approximately 31.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 80ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Wax Beans to ensure they mature before fall.

Slope County, ND (Zone 4a) Short season
132 days
Last Spring Frost May 15
132 growing days
First Fall Frost September 24

Slope County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (18 days to spare)
Transplant: May 12 🍅 Harvest: Jul 7 – Sep 1
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (20 days to spare)
Transplant: May 15 🍅 Harvest: Jul 10 – Sep 4
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (15 days to spare)
Transplant: Jun 1 🍅 Harvest: Jul 27 – Sep 21

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
1.0″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 424 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Wax Beans needs ~575 GDD — county provides 1,320 GDD Excellent fit

Wax Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Slope County, ND

Wax Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow May 29 May 29 โ€“ Jun 19
Harvest July 24 Jul 24 โ€“ Sep 18

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

132 days

Growing Tips for Slope 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 Slope County, ND?

Slope County is in Zone 4a with an average last frost of May 15. Plan your Wax Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Slope County, ND?

Slope County, North Dakota is in USDA Hardiness Zone 4a. The average last spring frost is May 15 and first fall frost is September 24.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Slope 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 Slope County, ND. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.