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Planting Calendar · Zone 4B

When to plant pole beans in zone 4b

In USDA zone 4b, sow pole beans around May 18, and harvest from Jul 17.

Growing SeasonZone 4b
Last frost ~May 4First frost ~Oct 20Today
Start indoorsTransplant / sowHarvestFrost risk
MAYJUNJULAUGSEP
Sow May 18 · First harvest Jul 17 · Wrap by Aug 28
Last spring frostMay 4
Direct sowMay 18
First harvestJul 17
Last harvestAug 28
First fall frostOct 20

Zone 4b covers 52 days of last-frost dates. We measured Pierre, SD at Apr 28 and Jackson, WY at Jun 19. Give us your town or ZIP and we'll use ten years of daily lows recorded at your own coordinates instead of the middle of that range.

Why these dates work in zone 4b

Zone 4b's last spring frost averages May 4 and first fall frost Oct 20 — about 169 frost-free days. Pole Beans is frost-sensitive, so the 2w after frost timing builds in a safety margin against a late cold snap — setting plants out too early risks losing them to frost.

Common questions

How long does pole beans take to grow in zone 4b?

Pole Beans matures in about 60–75 days from sowing. In zone 4b that means sowing around May 18 and first picking around Jul 17.

Will pole beans survive frost in zone 4b?

No — pole beans is frost-sensitive. In zone 4b, wait until after the last frost (around May 4) to plant, and harvest before the first fall frost (around Oct 20).

For soil, spacing, pests and companion planting, see the full pole beans growing guide →