What Grows in Woodson County, Kansas

USDA Zones 6b · 319K acres

Woodson County, in Kansas, sits in USDA hardiness zone 6b — enough range to grow cool-season vegetables, hardy fruit, and warm-season crops that mature before the first hard frost.

These conditions suit tomato, sunflower, peach, and blackberry — a starting list any specific site will trim or extend with its own soil, sun, and drainage.

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

Score your parcel · free

Woodson County holds more than one microclimate.

Soils and elevations shift across Woodson 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

6b

Last Hard Freeze (28°F)

Mar 6

County normal — light frosts run a few weeks later

First Hard Freeze (28°F)

Nov 25

County normal — light frosts arrive a few weeks earlier

County Area

319K acres

Hardiness Zone Range

6b6b
3a (Cold)13b (Hot)

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

Soil in Woodson County

Across Woodson County, the ground is predominantly Mollisols, where Dennis, Kenoma, and Woodson are the most extensive named soil series. The soil is generally moderately well drained with a silt loam surface. Topsoil pH runs about 5.8–6.4, slightly acidic. Rainfall drains through hydrologic group D soils.

Soil order

Mollisols

Drainage

Moderately well drained

Prime farmland

62%

Hydric soils

2%

Soil still varies lot by lot — soil types explained.

Is it too late to plant in Woodson County?

Almost never — the real question is what to plant next. Cool-season crops can go in from around Feb 6; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Mar 6 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Nov 25 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. And with a calendar this mild, the honest answer is that planting barely stops — winter opens seasons colder regions never see.

Growing Challenges in Kansas

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

Low rainfall in western KS requires irrigation

Out west, drip lines and heavy mulch are the growing season — design the water before the beds.

Extreme wind and hail during severe storm season

Stage row cover for hail season and give young plants a windbreak — quick shelter saves seasons.

Hot dry summers with 100F+ days

Lean on the spring and fall windows, shade the summer survivors, and water deep and early in the day.

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

Safe to Grow Here?

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

Federal record: Low

We checked the federal record across Woodson County45 documented sites across 3 of the 9 source types we track.

The most significant on record: 5 brownfield sites. Former commercial or industrial land where legacy contamination may persist.

The federal record across Woodson 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

45

across Woodson County

Risk Level

Low

Highest-severity

5 brownfield sites

Severity Distribution

across Woodson County

High0Moderate27Low18

Highest-Severity Sites

23S 13E 36ABB 01
Nitrate Monitoring · Well
23S 13E 36ABB 01
Nitrate Monitoring · Well
24S 14E 03AAA 01
Nitrate Monitoring · Well
24S 14E 03AAA 01
Nitrate Monitoring · Well
24S 16E 06DDD 01
Nitrate Monitoring · Well

A note from Gnorman

What an experienced grower watches for around here

In and around Woodson County, Nitrate runs higher than the national average — 22 sites nearby. It's not cause for alarm — it's worth knowing, and there's a sensible way to grow around it.

Nitrate: Nitrate contamination primarily comes from agricultural fertilizer runoff and failing septic systems.

Test well water for nitrate if you rely on a private well for irrigation (EPA standard: 10 mg/L).

Free Report

Check your specific parcel in Woodson 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

Woodson 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

Free Report

Read your parcel in Woodson County

Pull a site-specific report for your exact address in Woodson County, Kansas — 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 Woodson County, Kansas

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 6b (USDA PHZM 2023)
  • Last Hard Freeze (28°F): Mar 6 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can follow for a few weeks)
  • First Hard Freeze (28°F): Nov 25 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can arrive a few weeks earlier)
  • Days Between Hard Freezes: ~264 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals)
  • County Land Area: 319K 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 Woodson 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 Woodson County, Kansas?

Woodson 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 Woodson County?

Almost never — the real question is what to plant next. Cool-season crops can go in from around Feb 6; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Mar 6 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Nov 25 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. And with a calendar this mild, the honest answer is that planting barely stops — winter opens seasons colder regions never see.

When does frost risk typically end in Woodson County?

The last hard freeze (28°F) in Woodson County typically lands around Mar 6, 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 Woodson County?

Measured between 28°F hard freezes, Woodson County sees about 264 frost-free days — roughly Mar 6 through Nov 25, 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 Woodson County?

Woodson County's zone 6b supports a wide range — strong performers include Tomato, Sunflower, Peach, Blackberry, and Buffalo Grass. 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 Woodson County, really?

Officially, Woodson 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 Woodson County?

The federal record around Woodson County is light — 45 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 Woodson County — what should I know before planting?

Start with three facts. Woodson County sits in USDA zone 6b, which sets what survives winter; the last 28°F hard freeze typically clears around Mar 6, with about 264 frost-free days to work with (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and the local federal record is light — 45 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 Woodson 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 Kansas's frost window, season length, and soil profile against the plant's real requirements.