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When to Plant Green Beans in Lincoln Parish, LA

Lincoln Parish, Louisiana Zone 8a April

Your April gardening checklist

Each item below is timed to Lincoln Parish, Louisiana's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost March 22
Avg. first frost November 5
Soil temp (4") 63°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 12.8 hrs
Coming up in May — start thinking about
  • First harvests: green beans

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Green beans are a warm-season staple available as bush or pole types. Bush beans produce a concentrated harvest while pole beans provide a longer picking season.

Lincoln Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 22 and the first fall frost is November 5, giving you a growing season of approximately 228 days.

At an elevation of 77 feet, Lincoln Parish receives approximately 61.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 97°F, so Green Beans may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Green Beans root diseases.

Lincoln Parish, LA (Zone 8a) Long season
228 days
Last Spring Frost March 22
228 growing days
First Fall Frost November 5

Lincoln Parish Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

5.9-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (118 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 13 🍅 Harvest: May 8 – Jul 3
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (116 days to spare)
Transplant: Mar 22 🍅 Harvest: May 17 – Jul 12
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (112 days to spare)
Transplant: Apr 15 🍅 Harvest: Jun 10 – Aug 5

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 Lincoln Parish

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.9–6.7) overlaps with Green Beans's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.5%). Annual compost additions will help Green Beans.

How to Plant Green Beans

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

Succession Planting Green Beans

5
successive plantings in your 228-day season

Sow every 5.7 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 01 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.9″/week
Rainfall provides
1.1″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Green Beans

Green Beans needs approximately 0.9 inches of water per week (3.9" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Green Beans Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 3.9" 5.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 3.9" 4.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 3.9" 4.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 3.9" 5.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3.9" 7.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3.9" 6.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3.9" 4.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3.9" 3.5" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Nov 3.9" 4.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Dec 4.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Green 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.

Green Beans needs ~1,308 GDD — county provides 5,187 GDD Excellent fit

Green Beans Planting Timeline — Lincoln Parish, LA

Green Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Direct Sow March 29 Mar 29 – Apr 19
Harvest May 24 May 24 – Jul 19

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.9"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

50–65 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

📆 Growing Season

228 days in Lincoln Parish

Growing Tips for Green Beans in Lincoln Parish

Direct sow Green Beans outdoors after March 22 in Lincoln Parish when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

With summer highs reaching 97°F in Lincoln Parish, provide afternoon shade for Green Beans and water deeply in the morning.

Common pests for Green 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 last frost when soil is warm. Provide sturdy supports for pole varieties. Pick beans regularly when young and tender to encourage continued production.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Fennel

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

🌾 Save Your Own Green Beans Seeds
Life Cycle Annual
Pollination Self-Pollinating
How to Collect Allow pods to dry fully on vine until they rattle.
Storage Store airtight; viable 4 years at 35°F, under 45% humidity.

Avoid harvesting during damp weather. Isolate 25 ft between varieties.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Green Beans in Lincoln Parish, LA?

Lincoln Parish is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of March 22. Plan your Green Beans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Lincoln Parish, LA?

Lincoln Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 22 and first fall frost is November 5.

🌱

Your Lincoln Parish Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Lincoln Parish (Zone 8a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Lincoln 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.