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When to Plant Yard Long Beans in White 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.

White County, Illinois is in USDA Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 8 and the first fall frost is October 27, giving you a growing season of approximately 202 days.

At an elevation of 788 feet, White County receives approximately 30.5 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 85ยฐF, providing good warmth for Yard Long Beans during the growing season.

White County, IL (Zone 6a) Long season
202 days
Last Spring Frost April 8
202 growing days
First Fall Frost October 27

White County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.8-7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (89 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 5 Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: Jun 11 – Jul 23
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (90 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 11 Transplant: Apr 22 🍅 Harvest: Jun 17 – Jul 29
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (96 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 23 Transplant: May 4 🍅 Harvest: Jun 29 – Aug 10

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.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.4″/week
Watering frequency 1-2 times/week
Season total 789 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

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

Yard Long Beans needs ~928 GDD — county provides 2,777 GDD Excellent fit

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

Yard Long Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 11 Feb 11 โ€“ Feb 25
Transplant Outdoors April 22 Apr 22 โ€“ May 6
Direct Sow April 15 Apr 15 โ€“ May 6
Harvest June 17 Jun 17 โ€“ Jul 29

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

55โ€“80 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7.5

USDA Zone

Zone 6a

Growing Season

202 days

Growing Tips for White County

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 White County, IL?

White County is in Zone 6a with an average last frost of April 8. Plan your Yard Long Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is White County, IL?

White County, Illinois is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6a. The average last spring frost is April 8 and first fall frost is October 27.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help White County gardeners in Zone 6a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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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 White County, IL. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.