When to plant green beans in Birmingham, Alabama

March 21 – April 4

Direct-sow outdoors · typical Birmingham year

Climate basis: NOAA station Birmingham AP, AL (USW00013876), 5 mi (8 km) from downtown Birmingham (ZCTA 35203 centroid), elevation 615 ft, on the 1991–2020 climate normals. Direct-sow green beans from approximately the dates above, anchored to the median last spring 32°F freeze (March 21). One year in ten still freezes after April 8.

Last spring freezeMarch 211-in-10 after Apr 8

First fall freezeNovember 111-in-10 before Oct 30

Frost-free season≈ 236 daysmedian at 32°F

Hard freeze, 28°Mar 7 – Nov 24kills even hardy greens

USDA zone8a10 to 15°F winter low — not frost timing

The Birmingham year

Direct-sow outdoorsMar 21 – Apr 4

indoors under lights
in the garden
frost-free season
1-in-10 years still freeze to Apr 8

Green beans in Birmingham · freeze context from Birmingham AP, AL, 1991–2020 normals.

Every method, with its sources

Direct-sow outdoors

Mar 21 – Apr 4

UGA: plant as soon as the danger of frost has passed; UNH: plant seed in garden after last frost; Purdue: tender — plant after the average last frost. Point rule given a 14-day span. Anchored to the median last spring freeze (Mar 21). University of Georgia Cooperative Extension · University of New Hampshire Extension · Purdue University Extension

Start seeds indoors

Not calculated

Beans resent transplanting and are direct-seeded in the cited guides.

Transplant outdoors

Not calculated

The cited extension guides do not time an outdoor transplanting window for this crop.

Fall planting

Not calculated

No source-backed fall planting rule exists for this crop in the registry, so no fall window is calculated.

Variety assumption: Assumes bush snap beans (about 55–65 days from seed; Penn State lists 60).

These windows describe typical years (1991–2020 climate normals), not this year's forecast. Freezes happen outside them — especially in frost pockets, valleys, and urban edges. Watch the forecast before committing tender plants.

This week, not a typical year:

Crop rule sources (3)

University of Georgia Cooperative Extension: Home Garden Green Beans (Circular 1006) (accessed 2026-07-24)
"Green beans are a warm season crop that can be planted as soon as the danger of frost has passed in the spring."
University of New Hampshire Extension: Growing Vegetables: When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden [fact sheet] (accessed 2026-07-24)
Per-crop 'time from seed to transplant' and 'safe to set out in garden' relative to last frost.
Purdue University Extension: Indiana Vegetable Planting Calendar (HO-186-W) (accessed 2026-07-24)
Hardiness classes: hardy = plant 4-6 wk before last spring frost; semi-hardy = 2-4 wk before; tender = after average last frost; very tender = at least 2 wk after. Table 2: fall planting at least 4-8 wk before first fall frost.

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