New Hampshire · zones 4b6a

When to plant green beans in New Hampshire.

Sow between May 15 to Jul 5 in a typical year, keyed to New Hampshire's median last frost around May 15. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.

The 2026 windows

Green Beans dates for a typical New Hampshire season.

Direct sow

May 15 to Jul 5

Keyed to the ~May 15 last frost. Sow 1" deep, 3" apart.

Harvest

~55 days later

~0.75 lb per plant over ~3 weeks.

New Hampshire spans more than one climate: Zone 5 is the most common zone, but the state runs 4b to 6a. 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 New Hampshire: watch for

The pests that find green beans here.

The short season here, about 136 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.

Mexican bean beetle

Coppery ladybug-like beetles; leaves skeletonized to lace.

Organic fix: Handpick adults and yellow egg clusters; neem.

Aphids

Clusters on the shoot tips.

Organic fix: Insecticidal soap or neem.

Rust & powdery mildew

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: New Hampshire gives green beans about 136 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 New Hampshire: questions

When should I plant green beans in New Hampshire?+

In a typical New Hampshire year, sow green beans between May 15 to Jul 5, keyed to the state's median last frost around May 15. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.

What USDA zone is New Hampshire?+

New Hampshire spans zones 4b–6a, mostly zone 5. 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.