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When to Plant Yard Long Beans in Ferry County, WA

Ferry County, Washington Zone 6b May

Your May game plan for Ferry County, Washington

Each item below is timed to Ferry County, Washington's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost May 10
Avg. first frost September 24
Soil temp (4") 48°F
Watering Critical
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 15 hrs
  1. Move yard long beans from tray to bed

    Bring a watering can to the bed. Each transplant gets a drink the moment it's in the ground, not ten minutes later.

  2. Seed yard long beans outdoors

    Keep the top inch of soil moist until germination — a gentle morning watering for 5–7 days does the job.

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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.

Ferry County, Washington is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 10 and the first fall frost is September 24, giving you a growing season of approximately 137 days.

At an elevation of 3,990 feet, Ferry County receives approximately 18.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 84°F, so choose short-season varieties of Yard Long Beans to ensure they mature before fall. With low rainfall, drip irrigation is essential for growing Yard Long Beans successfully. Mulch heavily to conserve soil moisture.

Ferry County, WA (Zone 6b) Short season
137 days
Last Spring Frost May 10
137 growing days
First Fall Frost September 24

Ferry County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.6-6.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (24 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 7 Transplant: May 16 🍅 Harvest: Jul 11 – Aug 22
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (25 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 15 Transplant: May 24 🍅 Harvest: Jul 19 – Aug 30
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (24 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 3 Transplant: Jun 12 🍅 Harvest: Aug 7 – Sep 18

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 Ferry County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.6–6.4) overlaps with Yard Long Beans's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Ferry 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 excellent (4.6%) — Yard Long Beans will thrive.

How to Plant Yard Long Beans

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

Succession Planting Yard Long Beans

2
successive plantings in your 137-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 06 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.7″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 905 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 2.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 1.2" 3.1" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 0.7" 3.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 0.3" 4" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 0.4" 3.9" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 0.7" 3.6" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 2.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Ferry 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 ~878 GDD — county provides 1,781 GDD Excellent fit

Yard Long Beans Planting Timeline — Ferry County, WA

Yard Long Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 15 Mar 15 – Mar 29
Transplant Outdoors May 24 May 24 – Jun 7
Direct Sow May 17 May 17 – Jun 7
Harvest July 19 Jul 19 – Aug 30

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · 2-3 times/week

📅 Days to Maturity

55–80 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7.5 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

137 days in Ferry County

Growing Tips for Yard Long Beans in Ferry County

Direct sow Yard Long Beans outdoors after May 10 in Ferry 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.

Ferry County receives only 18" of rain annually. Yard Long Beans needs consistent moisture — install drip irrigation or water deeply 2-3 times per week.

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 Ferry County, WA?

Ferry County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of May 10. Plan your Yard Long Beans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Ferry County, WA?

Ferry County, Washington is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 10 and first fall frost is September 24.

🌱

Your Ferry County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Ferry County (Zone 6b). 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 Ferry County, WA. 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.