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When to Plant Yard Long Beans in Evangeline Parish, LA

Evangeline Parish, Louisiana Zone 9a May

Your May gardening checklist

Your garden in Evangeline Parish, Louisiana is working on a schedule, even when you're not. Here's where you should be this May.

Avg. last frost February 22
Avg. first frost November 28
Soil temp (4") 72°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.6 hrs
  1. Collect yard long beans at their peak

    This is the payoff month. Bring a basket, bring a friend, and get into the beds.

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.

Evangeline Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 22 and the first fall frost is November 28, giving you a growing season of approximately 279 days.

At an elevation of 203 feet, Evangeline Parish receives approximately 59.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 90°F, providing good warmth for Yard Long Beans during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring — great for early planting — but Yard Long Beans will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Yard Long Beans root diseases.

Evangeline Parish, LA (Zone 9a) Year-round
279 days
Last Spring Frost February 22
279 growing days
First Fall Frost November 28

Evangeline Parish Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

5.1-6.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (173 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 1 Transplant: Feb 19 🍅 Harvest: Apr 16 – May 28
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (174 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 11 Transplant: Mar 1 🍅 Harvest: Apr 26 – Jun 7
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 Evangeline Parish

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.1–6.3) is more acidic than Yard Long Beans prefers (6.0–7.5). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Yard Long Beans.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.2%). 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

6
successive plantings in your 279-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 09 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 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 5.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4.3" 4.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Mar 4.3" 5.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 4.3" 4.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 4.3" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 6.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 6.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 5.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 4.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Nov 4.3" 4" 0.3" 💧 Light watering
Dec 4.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Feb–Nov in Evangeline 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 ~1,181 GDD — county provides 4,900 GDD Excellent fit

Yard Long Beans Planting Timeline — Evangeline Parish, LA

Yard Long Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 11 Jan 11 – Jan 25
Transplant Outdoors March 1 Mar 1 – Mar 15
Direct Sow February 22 Feb 22 – Mar 15
Harvest April 26 Apr 26 – Jun 7

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

55–80 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 9a

📆 Growing Season

279 days in Evangeline Parish

Growing Tips for Yard Long Beans in Evangeline Parish

Direct sow Yard Long Beans outdoors after February 22 in Evangeline Parish when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

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

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 Evangeline Parish, LA?

Evangeline Parish is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of February 22. Plan your Yard Long Beans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Evangeline Parish, LA?

Evangeline Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 22 and first fall frost is November 28.

🌱

Your Evangeline Parish Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Evangeline 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 Evangeline 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.