Colorado · zones 5a–7a
When to plant green beans in Colorado.
Sow between May 9 to Jun 29 in a typical year, keyed to Colorado's median last frost around May 9. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Green Beans dates for a typical Colorado season.
Direct sow
May 9 to Jun 29
Keyed to the ~May 9 last frost. Sow 1" deep, 3" apart.
Harvest
~55 days later
~0.75 lb per plant over ~3 weeks.
Colorado spans more than one climate: Zone 6 is the most common zone, but the state runs 5a to 7a. That's why the planner works from your ZIP code's frost dates, not your zone: mountain and coastal gardens in the same state can be three weeks apart.
In Colorado: watch for
The pests that find green beans here.
The short season here, about 143 frost-free days, keeps bush bean in front of mexican bean beetle only briefly. One early row cover usually carries a planting through the worst of it.
Coppery ladybug-like beetles; leaves skeletonized to lace.
Organic fix: Handpick adults and yellow egg clusters; neem.
Orange or white spots on leaves late in the season.
Organic fix: Water at the base, space plants, spray neem.
Anthracnose
Sunken dark-red cankers on the pods, and leaf veins turning brick-red to black underneath.
Organic fix: Start with certified seed, water at the base, and stay out of the patch while the leaves are wet.
Your season math: Colorado gives green beans about 143 frost-free days, and it needs roughly 55 days to a first harvest. That fits about 9 re-sown rounds across the season, so you can keep it coming instead of picking once.
Planting green beans in Colorado: questions
When should I plant green beans in Colorado?+
In a typical Colorado year, sow green beans between May 9 to Jun 29, keyed to the state's median last frost around May 9. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
What USDA zone is Colorado?+
Colorado spans zones 5a–7a, mostly zone 6. But frost dates, not zones, set planting time. The free planner uses your ZIP code's actual frost dates.
How many green beans plants do I need?+
Depends who you're feeding. The crop page has exact counts per household size, or the free planner does the math for your family in about 60 seconds.