Blog

When to Plant Yard Long Beans in Kearny County, KS

Kearny County, Kansas Zone 6a May

Top priorities for Kearny County, Kansas gardeners in May

A quick May briefing for Kearny County, Kansas gardeners — what's urgent, what's next, and what can wait.

Avg. last frost April 26
Avg. first frost October 16
Soil temp (4") 62°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.1 hrs
  1. Move yard long beans into the garden

    Frost risk is low now in Kearny County, Kansas. If you've been covering beds overnight, you can stop.

  2. Put yard long beans seeds straight in the ground

    Your soil is 62°F — warm enough for these to germinate without babying.

Looking ahead to June
  • Starting indoors: 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.

Kearny County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost is October 16, giving you a growing season of approximately 173 days.

At an elevation of 720 feet, Kearny County receives approximately 22.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 91°F, providing good warmth for Yard Long Beans during the growing season.

Kearny County, KS (Zone 6a) Moderate season
173 days
Last Spring Frost April 26
173 growing days
First Fall Frost October 16
Share this guide:

Kearny County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.7-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (64 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 20 Transplant: May 1 🍅 Harvest: Jun 26 – Aug 7
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (61 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 1 Transplant: May 10 🍅 Harvest: Jul 5 – Aug 16
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (60 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 15 Transplant: May 24 🍅 Harvest: Jul 19 – Aug 30

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 Kearny County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.7–7.8) overlaps with Yard Long Beans's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.2%) — Yard Long Beans will thrive.

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 173-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 28 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 820 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 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 1.6" 2.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 2.2" 2.1" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 1.9" 2.4" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 4.3" 1.8" 2.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Nov 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Kearny 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 ~1,232 GDD — county provides 3,157 GDD Excellent fit

Yard Long Beans Planting Timeline — Kearny County, KS

Yard Long Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 1 Mar 1 – Mar 15
Transplant Outdoors May 10 May 10 – May 24
Direct Sow May 3 May 3 – May 24
Harvest July 5 Jul 5 – Aug 16

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
Share this guide:

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 6a

📆 Growing Season

173 days in Kearny County

Growing Tips for Yard Long Beans in Kearny County

Direct sow Yard Long Beans outdoors after April 26 in Kearny 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.

Kearny County receives only 23" 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 Kearny County, KS?

Kearny County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 26. Plan your Yard Long Beans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Kearny County, KS?

Kearny County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 26 and first fall frost is October 16.

🌱

Your Kearny County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Kearny County (Zone 6a). 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 Kearny County, KS. 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.