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When to Plant Yard Long Beans in Avoyelles Parish, LA

Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana Zone 9a May

What to do in May

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

Avg. last frost February 25
Avg. first frost November 26
Soil temp (4") 74°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.6 hrs
  1. Collect yard long beans at their peak

    Don't tug. Use scissors or pruners for clean cuts — torn stems invite disease.

Get ahead of June
  • 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.

Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 25 and the first fall frost is November 26, giving you a growing season of approximately 274 days.

At an elevation of 231 feet, Avoyelles Parish receives approximately 48.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 93°F, providing good warmth for Yard Long Beans during the growing season.

Avoyelles Parish, LA (Zone 9a) Year-round
274 days
Last Spring Frost February 25
274 growing days
First Fall Frost November 26
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Avoyelles Parish Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (171 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 3 Transplant: Feb 21 🍅 Harvest: Apr 18 – May 30
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (169 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 14 Transplant: Mar 4 🍅 Harvest: Apr 29 – Jun 10
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (173 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 29 Transplant: Mar 19 🍅 Harvest: May 14 – Jun 25

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 Avoyelles Parish

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3–6.7) is within Yard Long Beans's preferred range (6.0–7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.9%). 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

5
successive plantings in your 274-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 07 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.7″/week
You supply
0.3″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 646 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 4.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4.3" 4" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Mar 4.3" 4.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 4.3" 3.8" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 4" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.3" 4.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 3.9" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 2.9" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Nov 4.3" 3.2" 1.1" 💧 Light watering
Dec 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Feb–Nov in Avoyelles Parish). 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 ~1,333 GDD — county provides 5,431 GDD Excellent fit

Yard Long Beans Planting Timeline — Avoyelles Parish, LA

Yard Long Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 14 Jan 14 – Jan 28
Transplant Outdoors March 4 Mar 4 – Mar 18
Direct Sow February 25 Feb 25 – Mar 18
Harvest April 29 Apr 29 – Jun 10

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 9a

📆 Growing Season

274 days in Avoyelles Parish

Growing Tips for Yard Long Beans in Avoyelles Parish

Direct sow Yard Long Beans outdoors after February 25 in Avoyelles Parish 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 Avoyelles Parish, LA?

Avoyelles Parish is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of February 25. Plan your Yard Long Beans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Avoyelles Parish, LA?

Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 25 and first fall frost is November 26.

🌱

Your Avoyelles Parish Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Avoyelles 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 Avoyelles Parish, LA. 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.