When to plant bush beans in Baker City, OR

Plant bush beans from seed, directly in the garden in Baker City, Jun 1 – Jul 13.

Easy Plant seeds in the ground

Why these dates

Baker City's typical last spring frost is May 25. Frost kills bush beans, so planting starts once frost risk drops, around June 1. Keep row cover or a frost blanket handy for the first couple of weeks, since a late frost is still possible.

High desert and mountains. Central and high eastern Oregon. Frost is possible almost any month. Use row covers, wall-o-water or cloches for warm crops, and choose short-season varieties.

Difficulty: Easy
Sun: Full sun
Spacing: 3 inches apart
Planting depth: 1 inch deep
Frost: Killed by frost
First harvest: About 55 days after planting

Step by step

Prepare the bed: loosen the soil and mix in an inch or two of compost.
Plant seeds Jun 1 – Jul 13, 1 inch deep, 3 inches apart.
Keep the soil evenly moist until sprouts appear, which can take one to three weeks in cool soil.
Harvest: Pick when pods are pencil-thick and before the seeds bulge. Picking often keeps plants producing.

Varieties that do well here

Provider (sprouts in cooler soil)
Blue Lake 274
Royal Burgundy

Watch out for

Seeds rot in cold, wet soil, the most common Northwest bean failure. Wait for warm soil.

Seeds rot in cold, wet soil. Wait until soil is consistently above 60°F.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Baker City, OR?

Typically May 25. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by June 16. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Baker City Municipal Airport.

Is it too late to plant bush beans in Baker City?

The spring planting window runs through July 13. Later plantings may not have time to produce before the first fall frost, which usually arrives around September 15.

How long until I can harvest bush beans?

About 55 days after planting. Pick when pods are pencil-thick and before the seeds bulge. Picking often keeps plants producing.