When to plant green beans in Buffalo, New York

April 24 – May 8

Direct-sow outdoors · typical Buffalo year

Climate basis: NOAA station Buffalo, NY (USW00014733), 9 mi (14 km) from downtown Buffalo (ZCTA 14202 centroid), elevation 693 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 (April 24). One year in ten still freezes after May 9.

Last spring freezeApril 241-in-10 after May 9
First fall freezeOctober 261-in-10 before Oct 10
Frost-free season183 daysmedian at 32°F
Hard freeze, 28°Apr 13Nov 6kills even hardy greens
USDA zone6b-5 to 0°F winter low not frost timing

The Buffalo year

Direct-sow outdoorsApr 24 – May 8
  • indoors under lights
  • in the garden
  • frost-free season
  • 1-in-10 years still freeze to May 9
Green beans in Buffalo · freeze context from Buffalo, NY, 1991–2020 normals.

Every method, with its sources

Direct-sow outdoors

Apr 24 – May 8

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 (Apr 24). 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)

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