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When to Plant Yard Long Beans in Holmes County, MS

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.

Holmes County, Mississippi is in USDA Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 13 and the first fall frost is November 11, giving you a growing season of approximately 243 days.

At an elevation of 208 feet, Holmes County receives approximately 53.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly clay loam soil. Summer highs average 92ยฐF, providing good warmth for Yard Long Beans during the growing season. Clay soil retains moisture well for Yard Long Beans, but amend with compost to improve drainage and prevent root rot. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Yard Long Beans root diseases.

Holmes County, MS (Zone 8a) Long season
243 days
Last Spring Frost March 13
243 growing days
First Fall Frost November 11

Holmes County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Clay Loam

Soil pH

5.7-6.4

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (128 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 16 Transplant: Mar 20 🍅 Harvest: May 15 – Jun 26
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (131 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 23 Transplant: Mar 27 🍅 Harvest: May 22 – Jul 3
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (121 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 18 Transplant: Apr 22 🍅 Harvest: Jun 17 – Jul 29

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 Holmes County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.7โ€“6.4) overlaps with Yard Long Beans's range (6.0โ€“7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.4%). 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

5
successive plantings in your 243-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 23 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 148 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 โ€” 5.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 4.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar 4.3" 4.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Apr 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 4.2" 0.1" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 5.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 4.8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 3.4" 0.9" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov 4.3" 4.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Dec โ€” 4.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Marโ€“Nov in Holmes 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 ~1,282 GDD — county provides 4,617 GDD Excellent fit

Yard Long Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Holmes County, MS

Yard Long Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors January 23 Jan 23 โ€“ Feb 6
Transplant Outdoors March 27 Mar 27 โ€“ Apr 10
Direct Sow March 20 Mar 20 โ€“ Apr 10
Harvest May 22 May 22 โ€“ Jul 3

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January Start Indoors
February Start Indoors
March Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Harvest
June Harvest
July Harvest
August โ€”
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: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 8a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

243 days in Holmes County

Growing Tips for Yard Long Beans in Holmes County

Direct sow Yard Long Beans outdoors after March 13 in Holmes County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

With Holmes County's clay soil (28% clay), work in 3-4 inches of compost before planting Yard Long Beans. Avoid tilling when soil is wet to prevent compaction.

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 Holmes County, MS?

Holmes County is in Zone 8a with an average last frost of March 13. Plan your Yard Long Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Holmes County, MS?

Holmes County, Mississippi is in USDA Hardiness Zone 8a. The average last spring frost is March 13 and first fall frost is November 11.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Holmes County gardeners in Zone 8a 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 Holmes County, MS. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.