Growing green beans (bush): timing, spacing and costs by zone
When to plant green beans (bush) in Zones 6–9, spacing, and what to know before you commit ground.
Not yet expert-reviewed. Written by BAU Farm Intelligence from public extension and agency sources. Check dates and program details with your local extension office.
When to plant
Green beans (bush): warm-season, will not take a frost. Plant when soil reaches 65–85°F. Dates below are averages worked out from each zone's frost dates — check your own field.
- Zone 6b (Boone NC): seed April 24 – May 15; fall planting July 23 – August 13. First picking around June 25 – July 23.
- Zone 7b (Raleigh): seed April 8 – April 29; fall planting August 6 – August 27. First picking around June 9 – July 7.
- Zone 8b (Charleston SC): seed March 15 – April 5; fall planting August 30 – September 20. First picking around May 16 – June 13.
- Zone 9a (Gainesville FL): seed February 25 – March 18; fall planting September 15 – October 6. First picking around April 28 – May 26.
Setting it up
Direct-seed in the field. Space plants 4 inches apart in rows 24 inches apart, about 1 inch deep. Expect roughly 55 days to first harvest.
Field notes
Do not soak seed — beans rot easily. Successive plantings every 2 weeks until 60 days before first frost.
How it fits each zone
- Zone 6b: good — Green beans (bush) is frost-tender, so timing the outdoor transplant to the last frost matters more here than in warmer zones. Row cover buys 2 weeks of head start.
- Zone 7b: excellent — Green beans (bush) is well suited to Zone 7b. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.
- Zone 8b: excellent — Green beans (bush) is well suited to Zone 8b. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.
- Zone 9a: excellent — Green beans (bush) is well suited to Zone 9a. Standard planting dates work with minor adjustments for microclimates.
What it costs per acre
- 2026 Spring Snap Beans Budget (University of Georgia CAES — Agricultural & Applied Economics, 2026): about $2,023 per acre in transcribed costs.
These are published budgets, not your costs. Plug your own numbers into the breakeven calculator before you commit ground.
Before you plant
Line up who will buy it and at what price before seed goes in the ground. See the planting calendar for your exact zone.