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When to Plant Yard Long Beans in Wrangell City and Borough, AK

Wrangell City and Borough, Alaska Zone 7b May

What to do in May

May is a pivotal month for Wrangell City and Borough, Alaska gardens. Focus on these tasks first and you'll set up the rest of the season for success.

Avg. last frost April 23
Avg. first frost October 20
Soil temp (4") 62°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 16.1 hrs
  1. Transplant yard long beans outside

    Pick a cloudy afternoon or evening to plant. Less transplant shock, and your seedlings will barely blink.

Coming up in June — start thinking about
  • Starting indoors: yard long beans

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Yard long beans are a tropical legume that produces slender pods up to 24 inches long. They are a staple in Southeast Asian cooking and thrive in hot weather.

Wrangell City and Borough, Alaska is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 23 and the first fall frost is October 20, giving you a growing season of approximately 180 days.

At an elevation of 1,533 feet, Wrangell City and Borough receives approximately 35.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 59°F, so choose short-season varieties of Yard Long Beans to ensure they mature before fall.

Wrangell City and Borough, AK (Zone 7b) Moderate season
180 days
Last Spring Frost April 23
180 growing days
First Fall Frost October 20

Wrangell City and Borough Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.1-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (64 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 26 Transplant: Apr 30 🍅 Harvest: Jun 25 – Aug 6
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (68 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 5 Transplant: May 7 🍅 Harvest: Jul 2 – Aug 13
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (69 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 24 Transplant: May 26 🍅 Harvest: Jul 21 – Sep 1

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.

Soil Compatibility in Wrangell City and Borough

How your county's soil matches Yard Long Beans's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.1–6.5) is more acidic than Yard Long Beans prefers (6.0–7.5). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Wrangell City and Borough is excellent for Yard Long Beans — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Yard Long Beans.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (6.1%) — Yard Long Beans will thrive.

How to Plant Yard Long Beans

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Yard Long Beans

3
successive plantings in your 180-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 01 to harvest before frost.

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

Monthly Watering Guide for Yard Long Beans

Yard Long Beans needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Yard Long Beans Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 1.1" 3.2" 🚿 Regular watering
May 4.3" 1.4" 2.9" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 6.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 5.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 4.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Wrangell City and Borough). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Yard Long Beans Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Yard Long Beans needs ~0 GDD — county provides 0 GDD May not mature

Yard Long Beans Planting Timeline — Wrangell City and Borough, AK

Yard Long Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 5 Mar 5 – Mar 19
Transplant Outdoors May 7 May 7 – May 21
Direct Sow April 30 Apr 30 – May 21
Harvest July 2 Jul 2 – Aug 13

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors
April Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June
July Harvest
August Harvest
September
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

55–80 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

180 days in Wrangell City and Borough

Growing Tips for Yard Long Beans in Wrangell City and Borough

Direct sow Yard Long Beans outdoors after April 23 in Wrangell City and Borough when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Common pests for Yard Long Beans in this region include bean beetles and aphids. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Direct sow after soil is warm. Provide tall poles or trellising as vines can reach 8-10 feet. Harvest when pods are pencil-thick before seeds bulge. Cook quickly for best texture.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Onion
  • Garlic

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Yard Long Beans in Wrangell City and Borough, AK?

Wrangell City and Borough is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 23. Plan your Yard Long Beans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Wrangell City and Borough, AK?

Wrangell City and Borough, Alaska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 23 and first fall frost is October 20.

🌱

Your Wrangell City and Borough Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Wrangell City and Borough (Zone 7b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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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 Wrangell City and Borough, AK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.