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When to plant pole beans in Hermiston, OR

Plant pole beans from seed, directly in the garden in Hermiston, May 3 – Jun 7.

Easy Plant seeds in the ground

Why these dates

Hermiston's typical last spring frost is April 26. Frost kills pole beans, so planting starts once frost risk drops, around May 3. Keep row cover or a frost blanket handy for the first couple of weeks, since a late frost is still possible.

Columbia Basin and low eastern valleys. Hot, dry summers and quick spring warm-up. Warm crops go in earlier than west of the Cascades, and irrigation matters more than rain.

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 May 3 – Jun 7, 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 Hermiston, OR?

Typically April 26. In 9 years out of 10, frost is over by May 10. These are 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for Hermiston Municipal Airport.

Is it too late to plant pole beans in Hermiston?

The spring planting window runs through June 7. Later plantings may not have time to produce before the first fall frost, which usually arrives around October 10.

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 Hermiston around the same time

Planting dates for pole beans in nearby areas

Full planting calendar for Hermiston · Pole beans in every city