When to plant green beans in Seattle, Washington

March 13 – March 27

Direct-sow outdoors · typical Seattle year

Climate basis: NOAA station Seattle Boeing Fld, WA (USW00024234), 5 mi (8 km) from downtown Seattle (ZCTA 98104 centroid), elevation 20 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 13). One year in ten still freezes after April 1.

Last spring freezeMarch 131-in-10 after Apr 1

First fall freezeNovember 171-in-10 before Nov 1

Frost-free season≈ 247 daysmedian at 32°F

Hard freeze, 28°Feb 18 – Dec 2kills even hardy greens

USDA zone9a20 to 25°F winter low — not frost timing

The Seattle year

Direct-sow outdoorsMar 13 – Mar 27

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

Green beans in Seattle · freeze context from Seattle Boeing Fld, WA, 1991–2020 normals.

Every method, with its sources

Direct-sow outdoors

Mar 13 – Mar 27

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 13). 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.

Keep exploring

This crop, other cities

Related crops in Seattle

Local overview