Blog

When to Plant Yard Long Beans in Wakulla County, FL

Wakulla County, Florida Zone 9a May

Top priorities for Wakulla County, Florida gardeners in May

Each item below is timed to Wakulla County, Florida's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost March 13
Avg. first frost November 22
Soil temp (4") 72°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.5 hrs
  1. Harvest yard long beans as they ripen

    Check every 1–2 days. Many of these get tough or go to seed if you wait too long.

Looking ahead to June
  • First harvests: yard long beans

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

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.

Wakulla County, Florida is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is March 13 and the first fall frost is November 22, giving you a growing season of approximately 254 days.

At an elevation of 375 feet, Wakulla County receives approximately 48.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sand soil. Summer highs average 95°F, so Yard Long Beans may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. 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.

Wakulla County, FL (Zone 9a) Long season
254 days
Last Spring Frost March 13
254 growing days
First Fall Frost November 22

Wakulla County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sand

Soil pH

4.9-5.9

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (145 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 23 Transplant: Mar 13 🍅 Harvest: May 8 – Jun 19
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (149 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 30 Transplant: Mar 20 🍅 Harvest: May 15 – Jun 26
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (142 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 24 Transplant: Apr 14 🍅 Harvest: Jun 9 – Jul 21

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 Wakulla County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (4.9–5.9) is more acidic than Yard Long Beans prefers (6.0–7.5). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Wakulla 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

Succession Planting Yard Long Beans

5
successive plantings in your 254-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 03 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,130 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 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 2.6" 1.7" 💧 Light watering
Apr 4.3" 2.3" 2" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3" 1.3" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 7.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 6.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 7.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 6.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 4" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Nov 4.3" 1.8" 2.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Dec 2.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Nov in Wakulla 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 ~1,434 GDD — county provides 5,397 GDD Excellent fit

Yard Long Beans Planting Timeline — Wakulla County, FL

Yard Long Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 30 Jan 30 – Feb 13
Transplant Outdoors March 20 Mar 20 – Apr 3
Direct Sow March 13 Mar 13 – Apr 3
Harvest May 15 May 15 – Jun 26

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

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 9a

📆 Growing Season

254 days in Wakulla County

Growing Tips for Yard Long Beans in Wakulla County

Direct sow Yard Long Beans outdoors after March 13 in Wakulla County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Wakulla 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 Wakulla County, FL?

Wakulla County is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of March 13. Plan your Yard Long Beans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Wakulla County, FL?

Wakulla County, Florida is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is March 13 and first fall frost is November 22.

🌱

Your Wakulla County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Wakulla County (Zone 9a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Wakulla 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.