Ohio · zones 5b6b

When to plant green beans in Ohio.

Sow between Apr 25 to Jun 15 in a typical year, keyed to Ohio's median last frost around Apr 25. A second, fall sowing fits Jul 1 to Aug 3. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.

The 2026 windows

Green Beans dates for a typical Ohio season.

Direct sow

Apr 25 to Jun 15

Keyed to the ~Apr 25 last frost. Sow 1" deep, 3" apart.

Fall round

Jul 1 to Aug 3

Counted back from the ~Oct 15 first frost.

Harvest

~55 days later

~0.75 lb per plant over ~3 weeks.

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

The pests that find green beans here.

A middle-length season, about 173 frost-free days, means bush bean overlaps mexican bean beetle for a stretch each summer. Check plants every week or two and treat early.

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: Ohio gives green beans about 173 frost-free days, and it needs roughly 55 days to a first harvest. That fits about 12 re-sown rounds across the season, so you can keep it coming instead of picking once.

Planting green beans in Ohio: questions

When should I plant green beans in Ohio?+

In a typical Ohio year, sow green beans between Apr 25 to Jun 15, keyed to the state's median last frost around Apr 25. There's also a fall window: Jul 1 to Aug 3. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.

What USDA zone is Ohio?+

Ohio spans zones 5b–6b, 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.