What Grows in Warren County, Indiana

USDA Zones 6a · 233K acres

Warren County, in Indiana, sits in USDA hardiness zone 6a — a zone band wide enough that plant choice, not possibility, is the interesting question.

On paper, tomato, sweet corn, pawpaw, and peony all suit these conditions — on the ground, soil, sun, and drainage make the final call.

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

Score your parcel · free

Warren County holds more than one microclimate.

Soils and elevations shift across Warren 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

6a

Last Hard Freeze (28°F)

Mar 24

County normal — light frosts run a few weeks later

First Hard Freeze (28°F)

Nov 17

County normal — light frosts arrive a few weeks earlier

County Area

233K acres

Hardiness Zone Range

6a6a
3a (Cold)13b (Hot)

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

Soil in Warren County

Across Warren County, the ground is predominantly Mollisols, where Drummer, Brenton, and Rainsville are the most extensive named soil series. The soil is generally moderately well drained with a silt loam surface. Topsoil pH runs about 6.5–6.7, neutral. Rainfall drains through hydrologic group C soils.

Soil order

Mollisols

Drainage

Moderately well drained

Prime farmland

36%

Hydric soils

24%

Soil still varies lot by lot — soil types explained.

Is it too late to plant in Warren County?

For most of the year, no — what changes is which crops still fit the days remaining. Cool-season crops can go in from around Feb 24; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Mar 24 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Nov 17 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. A long window like this one runs successions deep into fall — and even its last weeks take quick greens and garlic.

Growing Challenges in Indiana

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

Heavy clay soils limit drainage in many areas

Mounded rows and compost open clay up — and where water still stands, a raised bed ends the argument.

Late spring frosts through early May

Hold tender transplants until your local last-frost normal clears — hardy greens will happily take the early slot.

Hot humid summers promote blight and mildew

Mulch to stop soil splash, water at the base, and rotate crop families — the blight playbook your extension teaches.

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

Safe to Grow Here?

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

Federal record: Low

We checked the federal record across Warren County46 documented sites across 5 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.

The federal record across Warren County is light. Growing food here starts from a strong position — a quick pass over the map tells you whether any recorded site sits near your land, and if one does, that's information to plant with, not a reason to stop.

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

46

across Warren County

Risk Level

Low

Highest-severity

2 Toxics Release Inventory facilities

Severity Distribution

across Warren County

High0Moderate10Low36

Highest-Severity Sites

Bio-Alternative
Toxics Release Inventory · 47932FLXLNUSHIG
Garrett of Williamsport Incorporated
Underground Storage Tanks · Open UST(S)
Indiana Precision Plastics
Toxics Release Inventory · 47993ndnpr701sr
Iw-79 Covington, Ind.
Nitrate Monitoring · Well
Iw-79 Covington, Ind.
Nitrate Monitoring · Well

Know Before You Grow

  • Underground tanks can leak petroleum products. Soil testing near former gas stations is recommended.
  • Raised beds with imported soil can reduce exposure risk near brownfield sites.
  • Test well water for nitrates if you rely on a private well. Levels above 10 mg/L require treatment.
Free Report

Check your specific parcel in Warren 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

Warren County Average

  • USDA Zones 6a
  • 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 Warren County

Pull a site-specific report for your exact address in Warren County, Indiana — 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 Warren County, Indiana

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 6a (USDA PHZM 2023)
  • Last Hard Freeze (28°F): Mar 24 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can follow for a few weeks)
  • First Hard Freeze (28°F): Nov 17 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can arrive a few weeks earlier)
  • Days Between Hard Freezes: ~238 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals)
  • County Land Area: 233K 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 Warren 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 Warren County, Indiana?

Warren County sits in USDA hardiness zone 6a, 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 Warren County?

For most of the year, no — what changes is which crops still fit the days remaining. Cool-season crops can go in from around Feb 24; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Mar 24 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Nov 17 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. A long window like this one runs successions deep into fall — and even its last weeks take quick greens and garlic.

When does frost risk typically end in Warren County?

The last hard freeze (28°F) in Warren County typically lands around Mar 24, 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 Warren County?

Measured between 28°F hard freezes, Warren County sees about 238 frost-free days — roughly Mar 24 through Nov 17, 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 Warren County?

Warren County's zone 6a supports a wide range — strong performers include Tomato, Sweet Corn, Pawpaw, Peony, and Apple. 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 Warren County, really?

Officially, Warren County sits in USDA zone 6a (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 Warren County?

The federal record around Warren County is light — 46 documented sites across the 9 federal source types we checked — and proximity to a documented site is information, not a diagnosis of any one yard. Growing food here starts from a strong position; a soil test before new food beds settles any site-specific question.

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

Start with three facts. Warren County sits in USDA zone 6a, which sets what survives winter; the last 28°F hard freeze typically clears around Mar 24, with about 238 frost-free days to work with (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and the local federal record is light — 46 documented sites across the area we checked. From there, matching plants to your actual soil and sun is the fun part.

Everything on this page is a Warren 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 Indiana's frost window, season length, and soil profile against the plant's real requirements.