Plant Beans (bush) in Zone 8b

Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 8b

Direct sow

Mar 22

Harvest (~55d)

May 16

Zone 8b averages 245 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around March 15 to a first fall frost around November 15. Beans (bush) needs roughly 55 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 22 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 Mar 22, after the Zone 8b last frost has passed and the soil has warmed. At 55 days to harvest, a 245-day Zone 8b season has room for about 3 sowings, so stagger them rather than planting everything at once.

Planting beans (bush) for a fall harvest in Zone 8b

Yes. Sow beans (bush) by August 24 in Zone 8b. 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

Aug 3

Sow by (last chance)

Aug 24

Fall harvest

Oct 18

Fall dates are counted backward from the Zone 8b 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 8b

Planting	Sow or start	In the ground	Harvest
Spring	Mar 22	Mar 22	May 16
Fall	by Aug 24	Aug 24	Oct 18

Last spring frost

Mar 15

First fall frost

Nov 15

Growing season

245 days

Beans (bush) in nearby zones

Beans (bush) in Zone 8a (colder) Beans (bush) in Zone 9a (warmer) Full Beans (bush) grow guide Zone 8b planting calendar

Other crops in Zone 8b

Tomatoes in Zone 8b Peppers in Zone 8b Cucumbers in Zone 8b Lettuce in Zone 8b Zucchini in Zone 8b Carrots in Zone 8b Peas in Zone 8b Broccoli in Zone 8b Spinach in Zone 8b Kale in Zone 8b Onions in Zone 8b Garlic in Zone 8b Potatoes in Zone 8b Squash (winter) in Zone 8b Corn in Zone 8b Radishes in Zone 8b Beets in Zone 8b Eggplant in Zone 8b Basil in Zone 8b Cilantro in Zone 8b Parsley in Zone 8b Pumpkins in Zone 8b Sunflowers in Zone 8b

Frequently asked questions

When should I start beans (bush) in Zone 8b?

Direct sow outdoors around Mar 22.

Can I direct sow beans (bush) in Zone 8b?

Yes, direct sow around Mar 22.

Can I plant beans (bush) in the fall in Zone 8b?

Will beans (bush) survive frost in Zone 8b?

No. Beans (bush) is a tender crop and a single light frost ends it, so every Zone 8b planting has to finish before the average first frost.

How many plantings of beans (bush) fit in a Zone 8b season?

About 3. Zone 8b averages 245 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.