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When to Plant Yard Long Beans in Dickson County, TN

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.

Dickson County, Tennessee is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 4 and the first fall frost is October 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 208 days.

At an elevation of 2,147 feet, Dickson County receives approximately 54 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 92ยฐF, providing good warmth for Yard Long Beans during the growing season. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Yard Long Beans root diseases.

Dickson County, TN (Zone 7a) Long season
208 days
Last Spring Frost April 4
208 growing days
First Fall Frost October 29

Dickson County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.6-6.7

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (98 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 7 Transplant: Apr 11 🍅 Harvest: Jun 6 – Jul 18
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (96 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 14 Transplant: Apr 18 🍅 Harvest: Jun 13 – Jul 25
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (98 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 28 Transplant: May 2 🍅 Harvest: Jun 27 – Aug 8

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 Dickson County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.6โ€“6.7) overlaps with Yard Long Beans's range (6.0โ€“7.5), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.9%). 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

4
successive plantings in your 208-day season

Sow every 6.3 weeks. Last sowing by Aug 10 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.1″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 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€” 4.7" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Feb โ€” 4.4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Mar โ€” 5.3" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 4.3" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
May 4.3" 4.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jun 4.3" 5.5" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 5.1" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 5.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 3.5" 0.8" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Oct 4.3" 3" 1.3" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Nov โ€” 4" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 4.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Aprโ€“Oct in Dickson 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 3,952 GDD Excellent fit

Yard Long Beans Planting Timeline โ€” Dickson County, TN

Yard Long Beans Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 14 Feb 14 โ€“ Feb 28
Transplant Outdoors April 18 Apr 18 โ€“ May 2
Direct Sow April 11 Apr 11 โ€“ May 2
Harvest June 13 Jun 13 โ€“ Jul 25

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

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1"/week ยท Natural rainfall sufficient

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

55โ€“80 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7.5 ยท Your soil: acceptable

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

208 days in Dickson County

Growing Tips for Yard Long Beans in Dickson County

Direct sow Yard Long Beans outdoors after April 04 in Dickson 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 Dickson County, TN?

Dickson County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 4. Plan your Yard Long Beans planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Dickson County, TN?

Dickson County, Tennessee is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 4 and first fall frost is October 29.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Dickson County gardeners in Zone 7a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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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 Dickson County, TN. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.