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When to Plant Yard Long Beans in Canyon County, ID

Canyon County, Idaho Zone 7a May

Your May game plan for Canyon County, Idaho

May is a pivotal month for Canyon County, Idaho gardens. Focus on these tasks first and you'll set up the rest of the season for success.

Avg. last frost May 4
Avg. first frost October 10
Soil temp (4") 47°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.5 hrs
  1. Set out yard long beans seedlings

    Bring a watering can to the bed. Each transplant gets a drink the moment it's in the ground, not ten minutes later.

  2. Sow yard long beans where they'll grow

    Thin ruthlessly once seedlings are up. Crowded roots mean smaller crops from every plant.

A few tasks this May that'll pay off in June
  • 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.

Canyon County, Idaho is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is May 4 and the first fall frost is October 10, giving you a growing season of approximately 159 days.

At an elevation of 4,953 feet, Canyon County receives approximately 13.3 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.

Canyon County, ID (Zone 7a) Moderate season
159 days
Last Spring Frost May 4
159 growing days
First Fall Frost October 10
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Canyon County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.2-8.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (54 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 2 Transplant: May 4 🍅 Harvest: Jun 29 – Aug 10
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (47 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 16 Transplant: May 18 🍅 Harvest: Jul 13 – Aug 24
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (30 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 18 Transplant: Jun 20 🍅 Harvest: Aug 15 – Sep 26

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 Canyon County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.2–8.2) overlaps with Yard Long Beans's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.5%). 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 159-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 22 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.4″/week
You supply
0.8″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,102 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 — 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 0.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 1.4" 2.9" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 1.1" 3.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 1" 3.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 1.6" 2.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 1" 3.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 4.3" 1.1" 3.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 0.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Oct in Canyon 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 2,424 GDD Excellent fit

Yard Long Beans Planting Timeline — Canyon County, ID

Yard Long Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 16 Mar 16 – Mar 30
Transplant Outdoors May 18 May 18 – Jun 1
Direct Sow May 11 May 11 – Jun 1
Harvest July 13 Jul 13 – Aug 24

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 Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
July Harvest
August Harvest
September
October
November
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 2-3 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

55–80 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

159 days in Canyon County

Growing Tips for Yard Long Beans in Canyon County

Direct sow Yard Long Beans outdoors after May 04 in Canyon 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.

Canyon County receives only 13" 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 Canyon County, ID?

Canyon County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of May 4. Plan your Yard Long Beans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Canyon County, ID?

Canyon County, Idaho is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is May 4 and first fall frost is October 10.

🌱

Your Canyon County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Canyon County (Zone 7a). 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 Canyon County, ID. 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.