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When to Plant Green Beans in Orleans Parish, LA

Green beans are a warm-season staple available as bush or pole types. Bush beans produce a concentrated harvest while pole beans provide a longer picking season.

Orleans Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 20 and the first fall frost is November 23, giving you a growing season of approximately 276 days.

At an elevation of 489 feet, Orleans Parish receives approximately 50.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 101ยฐF, so Green Beans may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Green Beans will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Green Beans root diseases.

Orleans Parish, LA (Zone 9a) Year-round
276 days
Last Spring Frost February 20
276 growing days
First Fall Frost November 23

Orleans Parish Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

5-6.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (177 days to spare)
Transplant: Jan 30 🍅 Harvest: Mar 27 – May 22
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (164 days to spare)
Transplant: Feb 20 🍅 Harvest: Apr 17 – Jun 12
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (151 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 30 🍅 Harvest: May 25 – Jul 20

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Green Beans needs ~1,481 GDD — county provides 7,132 GDD Excellent fit

Green Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Orleans Parish, LA

Green Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow February 27 Feb 27 โ€“ Mar 20
Harvest April 24 Apr 24 โ€“ Jun 19

Plant 1" deep ยท 15" apart ยท Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Direct Sow
March Direct Sow
April Harvest
May Harvest
June Harvest
July โ€”
August โ€”
September โ€”
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

50โ€“65 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 9a

Growing Season

276 days

Growing Tips for Orleans Parish

Direct sow after last frost when soil is warm. Provide sturdy supports for pole varieties. Pick beans regularly when young and tender to encourage continued production.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Fennel

Level Up Your Garden

๐ŸŒพ Save Your Own Green Beans Seeds
Life Cycle Annual
Pollination Self-Pollinating
How to Collect Allow pods to dry fully on vine until they rattle.
Storage Store airtight; viable 4 years at 35ยฐF, under 45% humidity.

Avoid harvesting during damp weather. Isolate 25 ft between varieties.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Green Beans in Orleans Parish, LA?

Orleans Parish is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of February 20. Plan your Green Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Orleans Parish, LA?

Orleans Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 20 and first fall frost is November 23.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Orleans Parish gardeners in Zone 9a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Orleans Parish, LA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.