Zone 5 · Beans & Peas Growing Guide

When to Plant Green Beans (Bush)
in Zone 5

One of the easiest crops to grow from direct sow. Fast-maturing, productive, and great for beginners. Succession sow every 2–3 weeks for continuous harvest.

Plant outdoors
May 1 – Jul 15
Start indoors
Direct sow
Last Frost
~Apr 15
Days to harvest
48–60 days
Difficulty
Easy
Plant now — Zone 5
Harvest window: Jun – Oct

Planting Calendar

In Zone 5, Green Beans (Bush) should be planted outdoors May 1 – Jul 15, after the average last frost date of approximately Apr 15.

Long productive season for successive sowings. 4–5 plantings possible May through mid-July.

Care Guide

Sunlight
Full sun · 6–8 hrs/day
Watering
Regular
Spacing
4–6 inches
Soil
Loose, well-draining, moderate fertility
Days to maturity
48–60 days
Soil pH
6.0–7.0
plant tip · Zone 5

Long productive season for successive sowings. 4–5 plantings possible May through mid-July.

Feeding Schedule

How often
at planting only
Feed type
low nitrogen (5-10-10)
Key timing
at planting

Beans fix their own nitrogen — avoid high-nitrogen feeds or you'll get lots of leaf and few pods. A low-nitrogen feed at planting is all they need.

Succession Planting

Sow every 3 weeks

Sow every 3 weeks from last frost through midsummer. Bush beans produce heavily for 3–4 weeks then slow down — successive sowings keep the harvest coming all season rather than one big flush.

Companion Planting for Green Beans (Bush)

What you plant next to green beans (bush) makes a real difference — some plants actively help, others compete or attract pests.

Grows well with
  • Carrots
  • Cucumber
  • Squash
  • Strawberries
Keep away from
  • Onions
  • Fennel
  • Leeks
  • Garlic

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Common questions

In Zone 5, direct sow green beans (bush) outdoors May 1 – Jul 15 after your last frost date of approximately Apr 15. Long productive season for successive sowings. 4–5 plantings possible May through mid-July.
Zone 5 has an average last spring frost of approximately Apr 15 and a first fall frost around Oct 15. These dates vary by specific location — use your ZIP code in the plant app for precision based on the nearest NOAA weather station.
Good companion crops for green beans (bush) include Carrots, Cucumber, Squash, Strawberries. Avoid planting near Onions, Fennel, Leeks, Garlic, which can compete for nutrients or attract pests.
Green Beans (Bush) typically takes 48–60 days from transplant or direct sow to harvest in Zone 5. Expected harvest window: Jun – Oct.

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Green Beans (Bush) in other zones
Crop Guides