Rainline Garden

When to plant pole beans in Bend and Redmond, OR

Plant pole beans from seed, directly in the garden in Bend and Redmond, Jun 16 – Jul 21.

Easy Plant seeds in the ground

Why these dates

Bend and Redmond's typical last spring frost is June 9. Frost kills pole beans, so planting starts once frost risk drops, around June 16. 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
4 to 6 inches apart along a trellis
Planting depth
1 inch deep
Frost
Killed by frost
First harvest
About 65 days after planting

Step by step

  1. Prepare the bed: loosen the soil and mix in an inch or two of compost.
  2. Plant seeds Jun 16 – Jul 21, 1 inch deep, 4 to 6 inches apart along a trellis.
  3. Keep the soil evenly moist until sprouts appear, which can take one to three weeks in cool soil.
  4. Harvest: Pick when pods are pencil-thick and before the seeds bulge. Picking every few days keeps the vines producing.

Varieties that do well here

  • Blue Lake FM-1K
  • Kentucky Wonder
  • Fortex

Watch out for

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

Climb 6 to 8 feet and keep producing for weeks. Put up the trellis before you sow. Like bush beans, they need warm soil.

Common questions

When is the last frost in Bend and Redmond, OR?

Typically June 9. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by June 26. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Redmond Roberts Field.

Is it too late to plant pole beans in Bend and Redmond?

The spring planting window runs through July 21. Later plantings may not have time to produce before the first fall frost, which usually arrives around September 14.

How long until I can harvest pole beans?

About 65 days after planting. Pick when pods are pencil-thick and before the seeds bulge. Picking every few days keeps the vines producing.

Also plant in Bend and Redmond around the same time

Planting dates for pole beans in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for Bend and Redmond · Pole beans in every city