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When to Plant Pole Beans in Cameron Parish, LA

Cameron Parish, Louisiana Zone 9b May

Your May game plan for Cameron Parish, Louisiana

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 6
Avg. first frost December 15
Soil temp (4") 75°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.5 hrs
  1. It's harvest week for pole beans

    Check every 1–2 days. Many of these get tough or go to seed if you wait too long.

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

Cameron Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Zone 9b. The average last spring frost is February 6 and the first fall frost is December 15, giving you a growing season of approximately 312 days.

At an elevation of 300 feet, Cameron Parish receives approximately 55.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 95°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.

Cameron Parish, LA (Zone 9b) Year-round
312 days
Last Spring Frost February 6
312 growing days
First Fall Frost December 15

Cameron Parish Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

5.2-6.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (199 days to spare)
Start indoors: Dec 11 Transplant: Jan 29 🍅 Harvest: Mar 26 – May 21
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (193 days to spare)
Start indoors: Dec 26 Transplant: Feb 13 🍅 Harvest: Apr 10 – Jun 5
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (176 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 23 Transplant: Mar 13 🍅 Harvest: May 8 – Jul 3

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 Cameron Parish

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.2–6.4) is more acidic than Pole Beans prefers (6.0–7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Pole Beans.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.2%). 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 312-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Oct 06 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 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 5.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" 💧 Light watering
Mar 4.3" 4.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 4.3" 4" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3.9" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 5.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 5.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 4.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 3.3" 1" 💧 Light watering
Nov 4.3" 3.8" 0.5" 💧 Light watering
Dec 4.3" 5.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient

Water needs are for active growing months only (Feb–Dec in Cameron 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 ~1,328 GDD — county provides 6,651 GDD Excellent fit

Pole Beans Planting Timeline — Cameron Parish, LA

Pole Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors December 26 Dec 26 – Jan 9
Transplant Outdoors February 13 Feb 13 – Feb 27
Direct Sow February 6 Feb 6 – Feb 27
Harvest April 10 Apr 10 – Jun 5

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

55–70 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 9b

📆 Growing Season

312 days in Cameron Parish

Growing Tips for Pole Beans in Cameron Parish

Direct sow Pole Beans outdoors after February 06 in Cameron Parish when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Cameron 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.

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 Cameron Parish, LA?

Cameron Parish is in Zone 9b with an average last frost of February 6. Plan your Pole Beans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Cameron Parish, LA?

Cameron Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9b. The average last spring frost is February 6 and first fall frost is December 15.

🌱

Your Cameron Parish Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Cameron Parish (Zone 9b). 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 Cameron 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.