What Grows in Logan County, Colorado

USDA Zones 5b · 1.2M acres

Logan County, in Colorado, sits in USDA hardiness zone 5b — a zone band wide enough that plant choice, not possibility, is the interesting question.

Among the crops suited to this profile: colorado blue spruce, tomato, penstemon, and apple. The site-level story — soil, sun, drainage — decides the rest.

Logan County lies within the High Plains — a regional growing area with its own character.

Grounded in USDA PHZM 2023 · Growable Ground suitability scoring · NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals

Score your parcel · free

Logan County holds more than one microclimate.

Soils and elevations shift across Logan County, so your frost dates and drainage aren't the county average. Enter your address and we'll score 1,112 plants against your land's actual soil, sun, and frost.

We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.

No card required · your full report in seconds

Quick Facts

USDA Zones

5b

Last Hard Freeze (28°F)

Apr 10

County normal — light frosts run a few weeks later

First Hard Freeze (28°F)

Oct 26

County normal — light frosts arrive a few weeks earlier

County Area

1.2M acres

Hardiness Zone Range

5b5b
3a (Cold)13b (Hot)

Zone maps are averages across Logan County. Your yard's slope, trees, and frost pockets shift what actually grows — see your land's exact reading.

Soil in Logan County

Across Logan County, the ground is predominantly Mollisols, where Valent, Platner, and Rago are the most extensive named soil series. The soil is generally well drained with a loam surface. Topsoil pH runs about 7.0–7.2, neutral. Rainfall drains through hydrologic group C soils.

Soil order

Mollisols

Drainage

Well drained

Hydric soils

2%

Soil still varies lot by lot — soil types explained.

Is it too late to plant in Logan County?

Usually not — gardeners here simply switch what goes in the ground as the season moves. Cool-season crops can go in from around Mar 13; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Apr 10 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Oct 26 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. The tail of the season still works: sixty-day crops into late summer, quick greens after, garlic last of all.

Growing Challenges in Colorado

What an experienced grower plans around here — each one has a move.

Low annual rainfall (7-20 inches) means irrigation is essential nearly everywhere

Build the irrigation first — drip plus mulch makes a high-desert garden run on remarkably little water.

High altitude UV and temperature swings stress plants

Harden transplants gradually, shade-cloth their first high-sun week, and keep row covers handy for cold nights.

Very short growing season at elevation (60-90 frost-free days above 8,000 ft)

Above 8,000 feet, count your real frost-free days and choose varieties bred to finish inside them.

Alkaline soils (pH 7.5-8.5) limit acid-loving plants without amendment

A soil test tells you your actual pH — grow acid-lovers in containers of amended mix while the native ground grows everything else.

For cultivar selection, pest pressure, and planting-time guidance specific to Colorado, the Colorado State University Extension is the authoritative local source.

Safe to Grow Here?

What the federal record shows across Logan County — and how to grow with it.

Federal record: Elevated

We checked the federal record across Logan County221 documented sites across 7 of the 9 source types we track.

The most significant on record: 4 Toxics Release Inventory facilities. Active industrial facilities reporting chemical releases to air, water, and land.

There's a meaningful federal record across Logan County — worth a look before you plant food, not a reason to hold back from growing. Proximity to a documented site is information, not a diagnosis of any one yard. A soil test before new food beds is the sensible precaution here, and the map shows exactly which sites sit where, so you can see what's actually near you.

Sources: EPA, USGS1.8M documented sites tracked nationwide across 9 federal source types.

Environmental Intelligence

Understanding what's nearby helps you make informed decisions about where and how to grow.

Total Sites

221

across Logan County

Risk Level

Elevated

Highest-severity

4 Toxics Release Inventory facilities

Severity Distribution

across Logan County

High1Moderate67Low153

Highest-Severity Sites

Sterling City of
PFAS Sampling · PFAS Detected
7-Eleven #15041
Underground Storage Tanks · Open UST(S)
Allen Mitchek Feed & Grain
Underground Storage Tanks · Open UST(S)
Cargill Incorporated Animal Nutrition Division
Toxics Release Inventory · 80751frrbt219ri
Colorado Retail Venture Services LLC
Underground Storage Tanks · Open UST(S)

A note from Gnorman

What an experienced grower watches for around here

In and around Logan County, CAFO runs higher than the national average — 15 sites nearby. It's not cause for alarm — it's worth knowing, and there's a sensible way to grow around it.

CAFO: CAFOs pose a different contamination profile than chemical sources.

Wash all produce consumed raw thoroughly, especially leafy greens grown near CAFOs.

Free Report

Check your specific parcel in Logan County

Get exact proximity distances to contamination sources for your specific parcel — plus soil, sun, drainage, and 1,112 plant recommendations.

Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:

Your soil pHYour frost-free daysYour sun & shade

We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.

25+ data sources analyzed in seconds

Your Specific Parcel Matters

Logan County Average

  • USDA Zones 5b
  • Generic soil type for the area
  • State-average frost dates

YOUR Parcel

  • Your exact hardiness zone
  • Your SSURGO soil type & pH
  • Your sun exposure, cast in 3D

See MY Growing Report

Free Report

Read your parcel in Logan County

Pull a site-specific report for your exact address in Logan County, Colorado — soil, sun, drainage, frost risk, and scored plant recommendations.

Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:

Your soil pHYour frost-free daysYour sun & shade

We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.

25+ data sources analyzed in seconds

Key Growing Facts for Logan County, Colorado

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 5b (USDA PHZM 2023)
  • Last Hard Freeze (28°F): Apr 10 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can follow for a few weeks)
  • First Hard Freeze (28°F): Oct 26 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can arrive a few weeks earlier)
  • Days Between Hard Freezes: ~199 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals)
  • County Land Area: 1.2M acres (US Census TIGER 2025)

Zone data: USDA ARS Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Climate data: NOAA NCEI. County boundaries: US Census TIGER/Line 2025.

Frost dates here are the Logan County average. Low spots and tree cover move them by days on any one yard — see your exact frost windows.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zone is Logan County, Colorado?

Logan County sits in USDA hardiness zone 5b, per the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Zones reflect average annual extreme minimum temperatures from 1991–2020 weather data.

Is it too late to plant in Logan County?

Usually not — gardeners here simply switch what goes in the ground as the season moves. Cool-season crops can go in from around Mar 13; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Apr 10 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Oct 26 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. The tail of the season still works: sixty-day crops into late summer, quick greens after, garlic last of all.

When does frost risk typically end in Logan County?

The last hard freeze (28°F) in Logan County typically lands around Apr 10, per NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals — an earlier marker than the light-frost dates many planting charts quote. That marks the hard freeze, not the last light frost — light frosts can still bite for a few more weeks, so tender transplants usually wait another 2–3 weeks.

How long is the growing season in Logan County?

Measured between 28°F hard freezes, Logan County sees about 199 frost-free days — roughly Apr 10 through Oct 26, per NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals. Tender crops get a somewhat shorter practical window, since lighter frosts reach a few weeks past the hard-freeze dates on both ends.

What vegetables grow in Logan County?

Logan County's zone 5b supports a wide range — strong performers include Colorado Blue Spruce, Tomato, Penstemon, Apple, and Peach. What actually takes on any one site comes down to its soil, sun, and drainage, and we score each plant against the real conditions at your address.

Which hardiness zone is Logan County, really?

Officially, Logan County sits in USDA zone 5b (USDA PHZM 2023) — but a zone is a 30-year average of winter's coldest night across an area, and it can't see any one yard. A south-facing slope, a tree line, or a low frost pocket can shift a single site by half a zone either way, which is why neighboring gardeners often quote different numbers. We read the conditions at your exact address — soil, sun, slope, and frost — and score 1,112 plants against what's actually there.

Is the soil safe to grow vegetables in Logan County?

The federal record around Logan County is a meaningful one — 221 documented sites — so a soil test before new food beds is a sensible precaution here, not a reason to hold back from growing. Remember that proximity to a documented site is information, not a diagnosis of any one yard; the contamination map shows exactly what sits where.

Just moved to Logan County — what should I know before planting?

Start with three facts. Logan County sits in USDA zone 5b, which sets what survives winter; the last 28°F hard freeze typically clears around Apr 10, with about 199 frost-free days to work with (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and 221 documented sites sit on the federal record here, so a soil test before food beds is the smart first step. From there, matching plants to your actual soil and sun is the fun part.

Everything on this page is a Logan County average. Your yard writes its own version — we read soil, sun, drainage, and frost at your exact address. Try it for 14 days — no card required.