Latah County, in Idaho, sits in USDA hardiness zone 6b — room for a real mix of vegetables, fruit, and perennials matched to the local frost calendar.
Crops well matched to these conditions include potato, apple, hop, and cherry — though what thrives on any one site still turns on its specific soil, sun, and drainage.
Latah County lies within the Palouse — a regional growing area with its own character.
Grounded in USDA PHZM 2023 · Growable Ground suitability scoring · NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals
Latah County holds more than one microclimate.
Soils and elevations shift across Latah 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.
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Quick Facts
USDA Zones
6b
Last Hard Freeze (28°F)
Apr 3
County normal — light frosts run a few weeks later
First Hard Freeze (28°F)
Nov 1
County normal — light frosts arrive a few weeks earlier
County Area
689K acres
Hardiness Zone Range
Zone maps are averages across Latah County. Your yard's slope, trees, and frost pockets shift what actually grows — see your land's exact reading.
Soil in Latah County
Across Latah County, the ground is predominantly Mollisols, where Santa, Southwick, and Taney are the most extensive named soil series. The soil is generally well drained with a ashy silt loam surface. Topsoil pH runs about 5.8–6.5, slightly acidic. Rainfall drains through hydrologic group B soils.
Soil order
Mollisols
Drainage
Well drained
Prime farmland
4%
Hydric soils
1%
Soil still varies lot by lot — soil types explained.
What Grows in Latah County
Plants matched to Latah County's USDA zones 6b — each links to its full growing profile.
Is it too late to plant in Latah County?
Almost never — the real question is what to plant next. Cool-season crops can go in from around Mar 6; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Apr 3 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Nov 1 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. With a season this long, “too late” mostly means “switch crops” — second sowings and a full fall garden are the norm, with garlic closing the year.
Growing Challenges in Idaho
What an experienced grower plans around here — each one has a move.
Short growing season at higher elevations
At elevation, fast varieties plus a cold frame or low tunnel reliably buy back the weeks the calendar withholds.
Arid conditions require irrigation in most of the state
Drip irrigation and deep mulch are the arid-country baseline — set the water system before the plants.
Cold winter snaps can reach -30F in mountain valleys
Plant perennials for your real zone, not an optimistic one — a -30°F night finds every zone-pushed plant.
For cultivar selection, pest pressure, and planting-time guidance specific to Idaho, the University of Idaho Extension is the authoritative local source.
Safe to Grow Here?
What the federal record shows across Latah County — and how to grow with it.
We checked the federal record across Latah County — 290 documented sites across 7 of the 9 source types we track.
The most significant on record: 2 Toxics Release Inventory facilities. Active industrial facilities reporting chemical releases to air, water, and land.
There's a meaningful federal record across Latah 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, USGS — 1.8M 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
290
across Latah County
Risk Level
Elevated
Highest-severity
2 Toxics Release Inventory facilities
Severity Distribution
across Latah County
Highest-Severity Sites
A note from Gnorman
What an experienced grower watches for around here
In and around Latah County, two things run higher than the national average — Mining (34 sites) and Nitrate (96 sites). Knowing it is half the work — and it's nothing a thoughtful grower can't plan for.
Mining: Mining sites — both historic and active — can leach heavy metals (arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury) into soil and water for centuries after operations cease.
Nitrate: Nitrate contamination primarily comes from agricultural fertilizer runoff and failing septic systems.
Test soil for heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium, mercury) — this is essential near any mining site.
Test well water for nitrate if you rely on a private well for irrigation (EPA standard: 10 mg/L).
Check your specific parcel in Latah 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:
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
Latah County Average
- ●USDA Zones 6b
- ●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
Read your parcel in Latah County
Pull a site-specific report for your exact address in Latah County, Idaho — soil, sun, drainage, frost risk, and scored plant recommendations.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
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 Latah County, Idaho
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 6b (USDA PHZM 2023)
- Last Hard Freeze (28°F): Apr 3 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can follow for a few weeks)
- First Hard Freeze (28°F): Nov 1 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can arrive a few weeks earlier)
- Days Between Hard Freezes: ~212 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals)
- County Land Area: 689K 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 Latah 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 Latah County, Idaho?
Latah County sits in USDA hardiness zone 6b, 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 Latah County?
Almost never — the real question is what to plant next. Cool-season crops can go in from around Mar 6; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Apr 3 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Nov 1 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. With a season this long, “too late” mostly means “switch crops” — second sowings and a full fall garden are the norm, with garlic closing the year.
When does frost risk typically end in Latah County?
The last hard freeze (28°F) in Latah County typically lands around Apr 3, 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 Latah County?
Measured between 28°F hard freezes, Latah County sees about 212 frost-free days — roughly Apr 3 through Nov 1, 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 Latah County?
Latah County's zone 6b supports a wide range — strong performers include Potato, Apple, Hop, Cherry, and Lentil. 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 Latah County, really?
Officially, Latah County sits in USDA zone 6b (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 Latah County?
The federal record around Latah County is a meaningful one — 290 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 Latah County — what should I know before planting?
Start with three facts. Latah County sits in USDA zone 6b, which sets what survives winter; the last 28°F hard freeze typically clears around Apr 3, with about 212 frost-free days to work with (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and 290 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 Latah 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.
Will It Grow Here?
Zone fit is the first question — each answer below reads Idaho's frost window, season length, and soil profile against the plant's real requirements.