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When to Plant Yard Long Beans in Douglas County, GA

Douglas County, Georgia Zone 8a May

May in the garden — Douglas County, Georgia

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

Avg. last frost March 31
Avg. first frost November 1
Soil temp (4") 67°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.7 hrs
  1. Time to start yard long beans inside

    Bottom-water once the first true leaves appear — it keeps stems dry and knocks back damping-off.

Coming up in June — start thinking about
  • First harvests: 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.

Douglas County, Georgia is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 31 and the first fall frost is November 1, giving you a growing season of approximately 215 days.

At an elevation of 171 feet, Douglas County receives approximately 60.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly clay loam soil. Summer highs average 94°F, providing good warmth for Yard Long Beans during the growing season. Clay soil retains moisture well for Yard Long Beans, but amend with compost to improve drainage and prevent root rot. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Yard Long Beans root diseases.

Douglas County, GA (Zone 8a) Long season
215 days
Last Spring Frost March 31
215 growing days
First Fall Frost November 1

Douglas County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Clay Loam

Soil pH

5.5-6.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (105 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 2 Transplant: Apr 6 🍅 Harvest: Jun 1 – Jul 13
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (103 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 10 Transplant: Apr 14 🍅 Harvest: Jun 9 – Jul 21
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (108 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 27 Transplant: May 1 🍅 Harvest: Jun 26 – Aug 7

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 Douglas County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.5–6.2) is more acidic than Yard Long Beans prefers (6.0–7.5). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.4%). 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

4
successive plantings in your 215-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 13 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.2″/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 5.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 5.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 4.3" 5.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 4.3" 4.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 5.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 6.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 6.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 4" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Nov 4.3" 4.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Dec 4.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Nov in Douglas 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 ~1,384 GDD — county provides 4,407 GDD Excellent fit

Yard Long Beans Planting Timeline — Douglas County, GA

Yard Long Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 10 Feb 10 – Feb 24
Transplant Outdoors April 14 Apr 14 – Apr 28
Direct Sow April 7 Apr 7 – Apr 28
Harvest June 9 Jun 9 – Jul 21

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February Start Indoors
March
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May
June Harvest
July Harvest
August
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 8a

📆 Growing Season

215 days in Douglas County

Growing Tips for Yard Long Beans in Douglas County

Direct sow Yard Long Beans outdoors after March 31 in Douglas County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

With Douglas County's clay soil (26% clay), work in 3-4 inches of compost before planting Yard Long Beans. Avoid tilling when soil is wet to prevent compaction.

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 Douglas County, GA?

Douglas County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of March 31. Plan your Yard Long Beans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Douglas County, GA?

Douglas County, Georgia is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 31 and first fall frost is November 1.

🌱

Your Douglas County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Douglas County (Zone 8a). 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 Douglas County, GA. 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.