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When to Plant Yard Long Beans in DeWitt County, TX

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.

DeWitt County, Texas is in USDA Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 2 and the first fall frost is November 26, giving you a growing season of approximately 269 days.

At an elevation of 1,649 feet, DeWitt County receives approximately 62.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 91ยฐF, providing good warmth for Yard Long Beans during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Yard Long Beans root diseases.

DeWitt County, TX (Zone 8b) Long season
269 days
Last Spring Frost March 2
269 growing days
First Fall Frost November 26

DeWitt County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.8-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (158 days to spare)
Start indoors: Dec 31 Transplant: Mar 4 🍅 Harvest: Apr 29 – Jun 10
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (157 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 12 Transplant: Mar 16 🍅 Harvest: May 11 – Jun 22
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (151 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 4 Transplant: Apr 8 🍅 Harvest: Jun 3 – Jul 15

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 DeWitt County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.8โ€“7.8) overlaps with Yard Long Beans's range (6.0โ€“7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in DeWitt County is excellent for Yard Long Beans โ€” good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Yard Long Beans.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.9%). 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

5
successive plantings in your 269-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
1.0″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 949 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

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 โ€” 1.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 2.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 4" 0.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Apr 4.3" 5.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 4.3" 9.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 11.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 6.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 7.9" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 5.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 4.3" 2.3" 2" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Dec โ€” 1.5" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Marโ€“Nov in DeWitt County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” 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" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF 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 ~1,232 GDD — county provides 4,909 GDD Excellent fit

Yard Long Beans Planting Timeline โ€” DeWitt County, TX

Yard Long Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 12 Jan 12 โ€“ Jan 26
Transplant Outdoors March 16 Mar 16 โ€“ Mar 30
Direct Sow March 9 Mar 9 โ€“ Mar 30
Harvest May 11 May 11 โ€“ Jun 22

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1"/week ยท 1-2 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

55โ€“80 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 8b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

269 days in DeWitt County

Growing Tips for Yard Long Beans in DeWitt County

Direct sow Yard Long Beans outdoors after March 02 in DeWitt County 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 DeWitt County, TX?

DeWitt County is in Zone 8b with an average last frost of March 2. Plan your Yard Long Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is DeWitt County, TX?

DeWitt County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8b. The average last spring frost is March 2 and first fall frost is November 26.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help DeWitt County gardeners in Zone 8b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for DeWitt County, TX. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.