Plant Beans (bush) in Zone 6b

Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 6b

Direct sow

Apr 22

Harvest (~55d)

Jun 16

Zone 6b averages 186 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around April 15 to a first fall frost around October 18. Beans (bush) needs roughly 55 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 30 percent of that window. Beans (bush) is a tender crop, which is what decides where in the window it belongs.

Beans (bush) resents transplanting and hates cold soil, so direct sow around Apr 22, after the Zone 6b last frost has passed and the soil has warmed. At 55 days to harvest, a 186-day Zone 6b season has room for about 2 sowings, so stagger them rather than planting everything at once.

Planting beans (bush) for a fall harvest in Zone 6b

Yes. Sow beans (bush) by July 27 in Zone 6b. That is 83 days before the average first frost, which covers the 55 days to maturity plus about two weeks for the slower growth that comes with shortening days, plus a two week margin because frost kills beans (bush) outright.

Bush beans mature fast enough for a second sowing almost anywhere with a frost-free window into October.

Fall sowing opens

Jul 6

Sow by (last chance)

Jul 27

Fall harvest

Sep 20

Fall dates are counted backward from the Zone 6b average first frost, not forward from a sowing date. See the fall planting calendar by zone for the full method.

Spring vs fall beans (bush) in Zone 6b

Planting	Sow or start	In the ground	Harvest
Spring	Apr 22	Apr 22	Jun 16
Fall	by Jul 27	Jul 27	Sep 20

Last spring frost

Apr 15

First fall frost

Oct 18

Growing season

186 days

Beans (bush) in nearby zones

Beans (bush) in Zone 6a (colder) Beans (bush) in Zone 7a (warmer) Full Beans (bush) grow guide Zone 6b planting calendar

Other crops in Zone 6b

Tomatoes in Zone 6b Peppers in Zone 6b Cucumbers in Zone 6b Lettuce in Zone 6b Zucchini in Zone 6b Carrots in Zone 6b Peas in Zone 6b Broccoli in Zone 6b Spinach in Zone 6b Kale in Zone 6b Onions in Zone 6b Garlic in Zone 6b Potatoes in Zone 6b Squash (winter) in Zone 6b Corn in Zone 6b Radishes in Zone 6b Beets in Zone 6b Eggplant in Zone 6b Basil in Zone 6b Cilantro in Zone 6b Parsley in Zone 6b Pumpkins in Zone 6b Sunflowers in Zone 6b

Frequently asked questions

When should I start beans (bush) in Zone 6b?

Direct sow outdoors around Apr 22.

Can I direct sow beans (bush) in Zone 6b?

Yes, direct sow around Apr 22.

Can I plant beans (bush) in the fall in Zone 6b?

Will beans (bush) survive frost in Zone 6b?

No. Beans (bush) is a tender crop and a single light frost ends it, so every Zone 6b planting has to finish before the average first frost.

How many plantings of beans (bush) fit in a Zone 6b season?

About 2. Zone 6b averages 186 frost-free days and beans (bush) needs roughly 55 days plus a couple of weeks of turnaround, so sowing every 35 days keeps a supply coming.