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When to Plant Pole Beans in Acadia Parish, LA

Acadia Parish, Louisiana Zone 9a April

Your April game plan for Acadia Parish, Louisiana

If you only do a handful of things in the garden this April, make it these. They're sequenced around your zone's frost timing.

Avg. last frost February 12
Avg. first frost December 6
Soil temp (4") 66°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 12.7 hrs
  1. Harvest pole beans as they ripen

    Morning harvests are best — cooler temperatures mean crisper produce and longer fridge life.

Coming up in May — start thinking about
  • First harvests: pole beans

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Pole beans are climbing varieties of green beans that produce over a much longer season than bush types. They require trellising but yield more per square foot.

Acadia Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 12 and the first fall frost is December 6, giving you a growing season of approximately 297 days.

At an elevation of 259 feet, Acadia Parish receives approximately 61.4 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 103°F, so Pole Beans may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring — great for early planting — but Pole Beans will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Pole Beans root diseases.

Acadia Parish, LA (Zone 9a) Year-round
297 days
Last Spring Frost February 12
297 growing days
First Fall Frost December 6

Acadia Parish Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

5-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (184 days to spare)
Start indoors: Dec 19 Transplant: Feb 6 🍅 Harvest: Apr 3 – May 29
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (178 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 1 Transplant: Feb 19 🍅 Harvest: Apr 16 – Jun 11
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (165 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 27 Transplant: Mar 17 🍅 Harvest: May 12 – Jul 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 Acadia Parish

How your county's soil matches Pole Beans's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.0–6.5) is more acidic than Pole Beans prefers (6.0–7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Acadia Parish warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Pole Beans will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.3%). Annual compost additions will help Pole Beans.

How to Plant Pole Beans

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Pole Beans

6
successive plantings in your 297-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 27 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 357 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Pole Beans

Pole 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 Pole Beans Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 5.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4.3" 4.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Mar 4.3" 5.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 5.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 6.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 6.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 5.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Nov 4.3" 4.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Dec 4.3" 5.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient

Water needs are for active growing months only (Feb–Dec in Acadia Parish). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Pole 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.

Pole Beans needs ~1,703 GDD — county provides 8,120 GDD Excellent fit

Pole Beans Planting Timeline — Acadia Parish, LA

Pole Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 1 Jan 1 – Jan 15
Transplant Outdoors February 19 Feb 19 – Mar 5
Direct Sow February 12 Feb 12 – Mar 5
Harvest April 16 Apr 16 – Jun 11

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

55–70 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 9a

📆 Growing Season

297 days in Acadia Parish

Growing Tips for Pole Beans in Acadia Parish

Direct sow Pole Beans outdoors after February 12 in Acadia Parish when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Acadia Parish dries quickly — mulch Pole Beans with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

With summer highs reaching 103°F in Acadia Parish, provide afternoon shade for Pole Beans and water deeply in the morning.

Common pests for Pole Beans in this region include bean beetles and aphids. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Provide sturdy 6-8 foot poles, tepees, or trellises. Direct sow after last frost. Pick regularly to encourage continued production. Beans fix nitrogen benefiting following crops.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Fennel

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Pole Beans in Acadia Parish, LA?

Acadia Parish is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of February 12. Plan your Pole Beans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Acadia Parish, LA?

Acadia Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 12 and first fall frost is December 6.

🌱

Your Acadia Parish Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Acadia Parish (Zone 9a). 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 Acadia Parish, LA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.