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When to Plant Yard Long Beans in Jackson County, KS

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.

Jackson County, Kansas is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 14 and the first fall frost is October 22, giving you a growing season of approximately 191 days.

At an elevation of 909 feet, Jackson County receives approximately 25.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly loam soil. Summer highs average 85ยฐF, providing good warmth for Yard Long Beans during the growing season.

Jackson County, KS (Zone 5b) Moderate season
191 days
Last Spring Frost April 14
191 growing days
First Fall Frost October 22

Jackson County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Loam

Soil pH

6.8-7.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (76 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 12 Transplant: Apr 23 🍅 Harvest: Jun 18 – Jul 30
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (79 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 17 Transplant: Apr 28 🍅 Harvest: Jun 23 – Aug 4
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (81 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 5 Transplant: May 14 🍅 Harvest: Jul 9 – Aug 20

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 Jackson County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (6.8โ€“7.8) overlaps with Yard Long Beans's range (6.0โ€“7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Yard Long Beans.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (4.1%) 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 191-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 03 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.9″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 1,495 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” 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 โ€” 0.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 0.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 1.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 2.4" 1.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 3.8" 0.5" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Aug 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Sep 4.3" 2.1" 2.2" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct 4.3" 1.6" 2.7" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Nov โ€” 0.9" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 0.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Jackson County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” 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" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF 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 ~928 GDD — county provides 2,626 GDD Excellent fit

Yard Long Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Jackson County, KS

Yard Long Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 17 Feb 17 โ€“ Mar 3
Transplant Outdoors April 28 Apr 28 โ€“ May 12
Direct Sow April 21 Apr 21 โ€“ May 12
Harvest June 23 Jun 23 โ€“ Aug 4

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 2-3 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

55โ€“80 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

191 days in Jackson County

Growing Tips for Yard Long Beans in Jackson County

Direct sow Yard Long Beans outdoors after April 14 in Jackson 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 Jackson County, KS?

Jackson County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of April 14. Plan your Yard Long Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Jackson County, KS?

Jackson County, Kansas is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is April 14 and first fall frost is October 22.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Jackson County gardeners in Zone 5b 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 Jackson County, KS. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.