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When to Plant Yard Long Beans in Weld County, CO

Weld County, Colorado Zone 5b May

May to-do list for Weld County, Colorado

We've pulled the most time-sensitive tasks for Weld County, Colorado this May and put them front and centre. Tackle them in order.

Avg. last frost May 2
Avg. first frost October 7
Soil temp (4") 39°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.3 hrs
  1. Move yard long beans into the garden

    Plant tomatoes deep — bury the stem up to the first true leaves to grow extra roots. Everything else goes in at the same depth it grew in the tray.

  2. Put yard long beans seeds straight in the ground

    Keep the top inch of soil moist until germination — a gentle morning watering for 5–7 days does the job.

Before June arrives, get these ready
  • 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.

Weld County, Colorado is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 2 and the first fall frost is October 7, giving you a growing season of approximately 158 days.

At an elevation of 6,992 feet, Weld County receives approximately 18.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 87°F, providing good warmth for Yard Long Beans during the growing season. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Yard Long Beans successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Weld County, CO (Zone 5b) Moderate season
158 days
Last Spring Frost May 2
158 growing days
First Fall Frost October 7
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Weld County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.6-8.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (46 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 2 Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Jul 6 – Aug 17
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (46 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 7 Transplant: May 16 🍅 Harvest: Jul 11 – Aug 22
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (41 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 24 Transplant: Jun 2 🍅 Harvest: Jul 28 – Sep 8

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 Weld County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.6–8.1) overlaps with Yard Long Beans's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Weld County is excellent for Yard Long Beans — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.2%). Annual compost additions will help Yard Long Beans.

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 158-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 19 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.5″/week
You supply
0.6″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 844 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 — consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

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 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 2.3" 2" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 1.4" 2.9" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 1.7" 2.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 1.8" 2.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 1.7" 2.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 4.3" 1.7" 2.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Oct in Weld County). 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 ~1,029 GDD — county provides 2,409 GDD Excellent fit

Yard Long Beans Planting Timeline — Weld County, CO

Yard Long Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 7 Mar 7 – Mar 21
Transplant Outdoors May 16 May 16 – May 30
Direct Sow May 9 May 9 – May 30
Harvest July 11 Jul 11 – Aug 22

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

55–80 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

📆 Growing Season

158 days in Weld County

Growing Tips for Yard Long Beans in Weld County

Direct sow Yard Long Beans outdoors after May 02 in Weld County 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.

Weld County receives only 19" of rain annually. Yard Long Beans needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

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 Weld County, CO?

Weld County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 2. Plan your Yard Long Beans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Weld County, CO?

Weld County, Colorado is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 2 and first fall frost is October 7.

🌱

Your Weld County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Weld County (Zone 5b). 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 Weld County, CO. 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.