Blog

When to Plant Yard Long Beans in Terrebonne Parish, LA

Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana Zone 9b May

This month in Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana

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

Avg. last frost February 7
Avg. first frost December 8
Soil temp (4") 78°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.5 hrs
  1. Start harvesting yard long beans

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

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

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.

Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Zone 9b. The average last spring frost is February 7 and the first fall frost is December 8, giving you a growing season of approximately 304 days.

At an elevation of 484 feet, Terrebonne Parish receives approximately 61.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sandy loam soil. Summer highs average 102°F, so Yard Long Beans may need afternoon shade and extra watering during peak heat. 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.

Terrebonne Parish, LA (Zone 9b) Year-round
304 days
Last Spring Frost February 7
304 growing days
First Fall Frost December 8

Terrebonne Parish Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sandy Loam

Soil pH

5.1-6.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (206 days to spare)
Start indoors: Dec 14 Transplant: Feb 1 🍅 Harvest: Mar 29 – May 10
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (199 days to spare)
Start indoors: Dec 27 Transplant: Feb 14 🍅 Harvest: Apr 11 – May 23
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (184 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 25 Transplant: Mar 15 🍅 Harvest: May 10 – Jun 21

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 Terrebonne Parish

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.1–6.4) is more acidic than Yard Long Beans prefers (6.0–7.5). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Terrebonne 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 low (2.0%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting 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 304-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 19 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 5.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4.3" 5.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Mar 4.3" 6.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 4.3" 5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 4.3" 5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 5.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 6.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 5.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Nov 4.3" 4.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Dec 4.3" 5.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient

Water needs are for active growing months only (Feb–Dec in Terrebonne 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 ~1,789 GDD — county provides 8,082 GDD Excellent fit

Yard Long Beans Planting Timeline — Terrebonne Parish, LA

Yard Long Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors December 27 Dec 27 – Jan 10
Transplant Outdoors February 14 Feb 14 – Feb 28
Direct Sow February 7 Feb 7 – Feb 28
Harvest April 11 Apr 11 – May 23

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
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

55–80 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 9b

📆 Growing Season

304 days in Terrebonne Parish

Growing Tips for Yard Long Beans in Terrebonne Parish

Direct sow Yard Long Beans outdoors after February 07 in Terrebonne Parish when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Terrebonne 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.

With summer highs reaching 102°F in Terrebonne Parish, provide afternoon shade for Yard Long Beans and water deeply in the morning.

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 Terrebonne Parish, LA?

Terrebonne Parish is in Zone 9b with an average last frost of February 7. Plan your Yard Long Beans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Terrebonne Parish, LA?

Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9b. The average last spring frost is February 7 and first fall frost is December 8.

🌱

Your Terrebonne Parish Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Terrebonne 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.

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 Terrebonne 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.