When to plant bush beans in Colorado
Colorado’s average last spring frost is May 5, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 1 — about 149 frost-free days (USDA zones 3b, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 7a). Bush Bean needs 50–60 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Colorado's growing season.
Colorado covers a wide range of climates, so your exact frost dates may differ from the state average by two weeks or more. For dates tuned to your town, use the calendar generator.
When to plant bush beans in Colorado: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow May 7 – May 26. Wait until the soil is at least 60°F and frost is over.
Succession sow again in Colorado: May 26 · Jun 9 · Jun 23 · Jul 7 · Jul 21
Windows are ~1–2 week bands around each date. Frost dates are a statewide average from NOAA/NCEI normals; your town may differ by two weeks or more. Calendar year 2026.
How to grow bush beans in Colorado, step by step
- Prepare the bed. They need at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day and loose soil at least 18 inches deep, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Dig in compost before planting.
- Sow outdoors (May 7 – May 26). Space plants about 4 inches apart in rows 18 inches apart, sowing seed 1.5 inches deep. It is killed by frost, so nothing goes outside until the danger has passed.
- Water and feed. Give it steady, even moisture, about an inch of water a week from rain or the hose.
- Watch for pests and problems. Pests: Mexican bean beetle, aphids, bean leaf beetle. Diseases and disorders: anthracnose, bacterial blight, bean rust, bean mosaic virus.
- Harvest (from about Jul 1 – Jul 11). Bush Bean takes 50-60 days to reach harvest. Do not start indoors - beans hate root disturbance. Sow every 2 weeks until ~10 weeks before first frost for a steady supply.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Colorado’s average frost dates. More in the full bush bean growing guide.
Bush Bean planting dates by USDA zone in Colorado
Colorado spans USDA zones 3b, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 7a. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average, so the bush bean dates shift with them.
When to plant bush beans in nearby states
Questions gardeners in Colorado ask
When is the best time to plant bush beans in Colorado?
Sow bush beans in Colorado between May 7 and May 26. That timing is set by Colorado's average last spring frost of May 5; Colorado spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
Can I plant bush beans in the fall in Colorado?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between July 6 and July 23, so the crop matures in cool weather before Colorado's first frost around October 1.
When will bush beans planted in Colorado be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, bush beans are usually ready from about July 1 to July 11, 50-60 days after sowing.
When is the last frost in Colorado?
On average around May 5, with the first fall frost around October 1 - about 149 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.