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When to Plant Yard Long Beans in Laramie County, WY

Laramie County, Wyoming Zone 5a April

April in Laramie County, Wyoming — your action list

Your garden in Laramie County, Wyoming is working on a schedule, even when you're not. Here's where you should be this April.

Avg. last frost May 19
Avg. first frost September 24
Soil temp (4") 26°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 13.1 hrs
Looking ahead to May
  • Direct-sowing: yard long beans

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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.

Laramie County, Wyoming is in USDA Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 19 and the first fall frost is September 24, giving you a growing season of approximately 128 days.

At an elevation of 6,153 feet, Laramie County receives approximately 19.3 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 83°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.

Laramie County, WY (Zone 5a) Short season
128 days
Last Spring Frost May 19
128 growing days
First Fall Frost September 24

Laramie County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.5-8.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (16 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 17 Transplant: May 26 🍅 Harvest: Jul 21 – Sep 1
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (16 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 24 Transplant: Jun 2 🍅 Harvest: Jul 28 – Sep 8
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (11 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 12 Transplant: Jun 21 🍅 Harvest: Aug 16 – Sep 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 Laramie County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.5–8.2) overlaps with Yard Long Beans's range (6.0–7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The loam soil in Laramie 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 (2.3%). 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

2
successive plantings in your 128-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
0.8″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 911 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 8/10 — 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 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.4" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.3" 2.1" 2.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 1.3" 3" 🚿 Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 1.8" 2.5" 🚿 Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 2" 2.3" 🚿 Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 1.6" 2.7" 🚿 Regular watering
Oct 1.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 1.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Laramie 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 ~827 GDD — county provides 1,568 GDD Excellent fit

Yard Long Beans Planting Timeline — Laramie County, WY

Yard Long Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 24 Mar 24 – Apr 7
Transplant Outdoors June 2 Jun 2 – Jun 16
Direct Sow May 26 May 26 – Jun 16
Harvest July 28 Jul 28 – Sep 8

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March Start Indoors
April Start Indoors
May Direct Sow
June Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
July Harvest
August Harvest
September Harvest
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 5a

📆 Growing Season

128 days in Laramie County

Growing Tips for Yard Long Beans in Laramie County

Direct sow Yard Long Beans outdoors after May 19 in Laramie 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.

Laramie County receives only 19" 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 Laramie County, WY?

Laramie County is in Zone 5a with an average last frost of May 19. Plan your Yard Long Beans planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Laramie County, WY?

Laramie County, Wyoming is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a. The average last spring frost is May 19 and first fall frost is September 24.

🌱

Your Laramie County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Laramie County (Zone 5a). 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 Laramie County, WY. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.