Minnesota · zones 3b–5a
When to plant green beans in Minnesota.
Sow between May 5 to Jun 25 in a typical year, keyed to Minnesota's median last frost around May 5. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Green Beans dates for a typical Minnesota season.
Direct sow
May 5 to Jun 25
Keyed to the ~May 5 last frost. Sow 1" deep, 3" apart.
Harvest
~55 days later
~0.75 lb per plant over ~3 weeks.
Minnesota spans more than one climate: Zone 4 is the most common zone, but the state runs 3b to 5a. 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 Minnesota: watch for
The pests that find green beans here.
The short season here, about 149 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: Minnesota gives green beans about 149 frost-free days, and it needs roughly 55 days to a first harvest. That fits about 10 re-sown rounds across the season, so you can keep it coming instead of picking once.
Planting green beans in Minnesota: questions
When should I plant green beans in Minnesota?+
In a typical Minnesota year, sow green beans between May 5 to Jun 25, keyed to the state's median last frost around May 5. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
What USDA zone is Minnesota?+
Minnesota spans zones 3b–5a, mostly zone 4. 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.