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When to Plant Yard Long Beans in Scott County, KY

Scott County, Kentucky Zone 6b May

Scott County, Kentucky gardeners: here's your May plan

We've pulled the most time-sensitive tasks for Scott County, Kentucky this May and put them front and centre. Tackle them in order.

Avg. last frost April 15
Avg. first frost October 24
Soil temp (4") 58°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 14.1 hrs
Get ahead of June
  • Starting indoors: yard long beans
  • 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.

Scott County, Kentucky is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 15 and the first fall frost is October 24, giving you a growing season of approximately 192 days.

At an elevation of 2,255 feet, Scott County receives approximately 41.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 85°F, providing good warmth for Yard Long Beans during the growing season.

Scott County, KY (Zone 6b) Moderate season
192 days
Last Spring Frost April 15
192 growing days
First Fall Frost October 24
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Scott County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.3-6.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (81 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 11 Transplant: Apr 22 🍅 Harvest: Jun 17 – Jul 29
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (80 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 18 Transplant: Apr 29 🍅 Harvest: Jun 24 – Aug 5
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (72 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 7 Transplant: May 16 🍅 Harvest: Jul 11 – Aug 22

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 Scott County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.3–6.8) overlaps with Yard Long Beans's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.1%). 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 192-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 05 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 158 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 3.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 2.8" 1.5" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.3" 5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 3.8" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.5" 1.8" 💧 Light watering
Nov 3.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Scott 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 2,640 GDD Excellent fit

Yard Long Beans Planting Timeline — Scott County, KY

Yard Long Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 18 Feb 18 – Mar 4
Transplant Outdoors April 29 Apr 29 – May 13
Direct Sow April 22 Apr 22 – May 13
Harvest June 24 Jun 24 – Aug 5

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

55–80 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

192 days in Scott County

Growing Tips for Yard Long Beans in Scott County

Direct sow Yard Long Beans outdoors after April 15 in Scott 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.

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 Scott County, KY?

Scott County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 15. Plan your Yard Long Beans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Scott County, KY?

Scott County, Kentucky is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 15 and first fall frost is October 24.

🌱

Your Scott County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Scott County (Zone 6b). 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 Scott County, KY. 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.