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When to Plant Yard Long Beans in Wheeler County, OR

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.

Wheeler County, Oregon is in USDA Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 23 and the first fall frost is September 23, giving you a growing season of approximately 123 days.

At an elevation of 2,175 feet, Wheeler County receives approximately 22.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 83ยฐF, so choose short-season varieties of Yard Long Beans to ensure they mature before fall.

Wheeler County, OR (Zone 5b) Short season
123 days
Last Spring Frost May 23
123 growing days
First Fall Frost September 23

Wheeler County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.2-6.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (5 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 21 Transplant: May 30 🍅 Harvest: Jul 25 – Sep 5
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (11 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 28 Transplant: Jun 6 🍅 Harvest: Aug 1 – Sep 12
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (13 days to spare)
Start indoors: Apr 24 Transplant: Jul 3 🍅 Harvest: Aug 28 – Oct 9

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 Wheeler County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.2โ€“6.3) is more acidic than Yard Long Beans prefers (6.0โ€“7.5). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (5.7%) 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

2
successive plantings in your 123-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 05 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.8″/week
You supply
0.2″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 242 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€” 3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 2.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 2.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr โ€” 1.6" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
May 4.3" 1.5" 2.8" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jun 4.3" 1" 3.3" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Jul 4.3" 0.4" 3.9" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Aug 4.3" 0.4" 3.9" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Sep 4.3" 0.8" 3.5" ๐Ÿšฟ Regular watering
Oct โ€” 2.1" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Nov โ€” 3.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 3.8" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Mayโ€“Sep in Wheeler 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 ~827 GDD — county provides 1,506 GDD Excellent fit

Yard Long Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Wheeler County, OR

Yard Long Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 28 Mar 28 โ€“ Apr 11
Transplant Outdoors June 6 Jun 6 โ€“ Jun 20
Direct Sow May 30 May 30 โ€“ Jun 20
Harvest August 1 Aug 1 โ€“ Sep 12

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 5b

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

123 days in Wheeler County

Growing Tips for Yard Long Beans in Wheeler County

Direct sow Yard Long Beans outdoors after May 23 in Wheeler 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.

Wheeler County receives only 23" of rain annually. Yard Long Beans needs consistent moisture โ€” 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 Wheeler County, OR?

Wheeler County is in Zone 5b with an average last frost of May 23. Plan your Yard Long Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Wheeler County, OR?

Wheeler County, Oregon is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5b. The average last spring frost is May 23 and first fall frost is September 23.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Wheeler County gardeners in Zone 5b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

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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 Wheeler County, OR. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.