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When to Plant Yard Long Beans in Fayette County, IL

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.

Fayette County, Illinois is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 12 and the first fall frost is October 18, giving you a growing season of approximately 189 days.

At an elevation of 854 feet, Fayette County receives approximately 40.6 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Yard Long Beans during the growing season.

Fayette County, IL (Zone 6a) Moderate season
189 days
Last Spring Frost April 12
189 growing days
First Fall Frost October 18

Fayette County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

6.1-7.2

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (78 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 9 Transplant: Apr 20 🍅 Harvest: Jun 15 – Jul 27
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (77 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 15 Transplant: Apr 26 🍅 Harvest: Jun 21 – Aug 2
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (80 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 26 Transplant: May 7 🍅 Harvest: Jul 2 – Aug 13

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 Fayette County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.1โ€“7.2) is within Yard Long Beans's preferred range (6.0โ€“7.5).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.2%) โ€” 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

4
successive plantings in your 189-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 30 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 197 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Yard Long Beans needs ~1,181 GDD — county provides 3,307 GDD Excellent fit

Yard Long Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Fayette County, IL

Yard Long Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 15 Feb 15 โ€“ Mar 1
Transplant Outdoors April 26 Apr 26 โ€“ May 10
Direct Sow April 19 Apr 19 โ€“ May 10
Harvest June 21 Jun 21 โ€“ Aug 2

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1"/week ยท Only during dry spells

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

55โ€“80 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: ideal

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 6a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

189 days in Fayette County

Growing Tips for Yard Long Beans in Fayette County

Direct sow Yard Long Beans outdoors after April 12 in Fayette 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

Level Up Your Garden

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Yard Long Beans in Fayette County, IL?

Fayette County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 12. Plan your Yard Long Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Fayette County, IL?

Fayette County, Illinois is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 12 and first fall frost is October 18.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Fayette County gardeners in Zone 6a 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 Fayette County, IL. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.