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When to Plant Yard Long Beans in La Salle County, TX

La Salle County, Texas Zone 9a May

Top priorities for La Salle County, Texas gardeners in May

May rewards gardeners who work with the weather, not against it. Here's how to stay in step this month in La Salle County, Texas.

Avg. last frost February 14
Avg. first frost December 3
Soil temp (4") 67°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 13.4 hrs
  1. It's harvest week for yard long beans

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

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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.

La Salle County, Texas is in USDA Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 14 and the first fall frost is December 3, giving you a growing season of approximately 292 days.

At an elevation of 2,270 feet, La Salle County receives approximately 57.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 92°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.

La Salle County, TX (Zone 9a) Year-round
292 days
Last Spring Frost February 14
292 growing days
First Fall Frost December 3

La Salle County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-7.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (195 days to spare)
Start indoors: Dec 19 Transplant: Feb 6 🍅 Harvest: Apr 3 – May 15
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (187 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 3 Transplant: Feb 21 🍅 Harvest: Apr 18 – May 30
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (176 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 31 Transplant: Mar 21 🍅 Harvest: May 16 – Jun 27

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 La Salle County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–7.6) overlaps with Yard Long Beans's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Yard Long Beans.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.0%). 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 292-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Sep 14 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.5″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 1,252 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 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 4.3" 2" 2.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Mar 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" 💧 Light watering
Apr 4.3" 5.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 4.3" 7.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 10.2" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 7.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 5.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
Nov 4.3" 2" 2.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Dec 4.3" 1.6" 2.7" 🚿 Regular watering

Water needs are for active growing months only (Feb–Dec in La Salle 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 ~1,282 GDD — county provides 5,567 GDD Excellent fit

Yard Long Beans Planting Timeline — La Salle County, TX

Yard Long Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 3 Jan 3 – Jan 17
Transplant Outdoors February 21 Feb 21 – Mar 7
Direct Sow February 14 Feb 14 – Mar 7
Harvest April 18 Apr 18 – May 30

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 1-2 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

55–80 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 9a

📆 Growing Season

292 days in La Salle County

Growing Tips for Yard Long Beans in La Salle County

Direct sow Yard Long Beans outdoors after February 14 in La Salle 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 La Salle County, TX?

La Salle County is in Zone 9a with an average last frost of February 14. Plan your Yard Long Beans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is La Salle County, TX?

La Salle County, Texas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9a. The average last spring frost is February 14 and first fall frost is December 3.

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Your La Salle County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for La Salle County (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 La Salle 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.