Blog

When to Plant Yard Long Beans in Fannin County, TX

Fannin County, Texas Zone 8a May

Fannin County, Texas gardeners: here's your May plan

Your garden in Fannin County, Texas is working on a schedule, even when you're not. Here's where you should be this May.

Avg. last frost March 16
Avg. first frost November 15
Soil temp (4") 68°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.7 hrs
  1. Begin indoor sowing: yard long beans

    Give them 6–8 weeks indoors before the last frost and you'll transplant into warm soil with seedlings that are already leaping.

  2. Collect yard long beans at their peak

    If you can't use it all right away, check the food-preservation section of your planner.

Get ahead of June
  • First harvests: yard long beans

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.

Fannin County, Texas is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 16 and the first fall frost is November 15, giving you a growing season of approximately 244 days.

At an elevation of 282 feet, Fannin County receives approximately 63.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 88°F, 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.

Fannin County, TX (Zone 8a) Long season
244 days
Last Spring Frost March 16
244 growing days
First Fall Frost November 15

Fannin County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.3-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (135 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 17 Transplant: Mar 21 🍅 Harvest: May 16 – Jun 27
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (132 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 26 Transplant: Mar 30 🍅 Harvest: May 25 – Jul 6
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (124 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 19 Transplant: Apr 23 🍅 Harvest: Jun 18 – Jul 30

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 Fannin County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.3–7.8) overlaps with Yard Long Beans's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Fannin County is excellent for Yard Long Beans — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

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

5
successive plantings in your 244-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 27 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.1″/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 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Apr 4.3" 6.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 4.3" 8.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 11.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 7.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 7.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 6.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 4.3" 2.1" 2.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Dec 1.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mar–Nov in Fannin County). 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 ~1,080 GDD — county provides 3,904 GDD Excellent fit

Yard Long Beans Planting Timeline — Fannin County, TX

Yard Long Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 26 Jan 26 – Feb 9
Transplant Outdoors March 30 Mar 30 – Apr 13
Direct Sow March 23 Mar 23 – Apr 13
Harvest May 25 May 25 – Jul 6

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January Start Indoors
February Start Indoors
March Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Harvest
June Harvest
July Harvest
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: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

📆 Growing Season

244 days in Fannin County

Growing Tips for Yard Long Beans in Fannin County

Direct sow Yard Long Beans outdoors after March 16 in Fannin 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 Fannin County, TX?

Fannin County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of March 16. Plan your Yard Long Beans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Fannin County, TX?

Fannin County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 16 and first fall frost is November 15.

🌱

Your Fannin County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Fannin County (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 Fannin County, TX. 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.