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When to Plant Yard Long Beans in Collier County, FL

Collier County, Florida Zone 10b May

May to-do list for Collier County, Florida

May rewards gardeners who work with the weather, not against it. Here's how to stay in step this month in Collier County, Florida.

Avg. last frost January 12
Soil temp (4") 80°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.3 hrs

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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.

Collier County, Florida is in USDA Zone 10b. The average last spring frost is January 12 and the first fall frost is April 15, giving you a growing season of approximately 93 days.

At an elevation of 185 feet, Collier County receives approximately 61.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sand soil. Summer highs average 85°F, providing good warmth for Yard Long Beans during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring — great for early planting — but Yard Long Beans will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Yard Long Beans root diseases.

Collier County, FL (Zone 10b) Very short season
93 days
Last Spring Frost January 12
93 growing days
First Fall Frost April 15
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Collier County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sand

Soil pH

5-6.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (178 days to spare)
Start indoors: Nov 24 Transplant: Jan 12 🍅 Harvest: Mar 9 – Apr 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (171 days to spare)
Start indoors: Dec 1 Transplant: Jan 19 🍅 Harvest: Mar 16 – Apr 27
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (143 days to spare)
Start indoors: Dec 29 Transplant: Feb 16 🍅 Harvest: Apr 13 – May 25

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 Collier County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.0–6.2) is more acidic than Yard Long Beans prefers (6.0–7.5). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Collier County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Yard Long Beans will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Yard Long Beans.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.3%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting Yard Long Beans.

How to Plant Yard Long Beans

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

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.6″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,932 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 4.3" 2.8" 1.5" 💧 Light watering
Feb 4.3" 3.3" 1" 💧 Light watering
Mar 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Apr 4.3" 2.4" 1.9" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 7.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 10" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 8.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 5.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Jan–Oct in Collier 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 ~928 GDD — county provides 5,018 GDD Excellent fit

Yard Long Beans Planting Timeline — Collier County, FL

Yard Long Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors December 1 Dec 1 – Dec 15
Transplant Outdoors January 19 Jan 19 – Feb 2
Direct Sow January 12 Jan 12 – Feb 2
Harvest March 16 Mar 16 – Apr 27

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 10b

📆 Growing Season

93 days in Collier County

Growing Tips for Yard Long Beans in Collier County

Direct sow Yard Long Beans outdoors after January 12 in Collier County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Collier County dries quickly — mulch Yard Long Beans with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

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 Collier County, FL?

Collier County is in Zone 10b with an average last frost of January 12. Plan your Yard Long Beans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Collier County, FL?

Collier County, Florida is in USDA Hardiness Zone 10b. The average last spring frost is January 12 and first fall frost is .

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Your Collier County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Collier County (Zone 10b). 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 Collier County, FL. 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.