What Grows in West Carroll County, Louisiana

USDA Zones 8b · 230K acres

West Carroll County, in Louisiana, sits in USDA hardiness zone 8b — a range where zone-matched perennials and frost-aware annual timing set what succeeds.

Well-matched crops include satsuma orange, okra, pecan, and muscadine grape, and the gap between "grows in the area" and "grows in your yard" is closed by soil, sun, and drainage.

West Carroll County lies within the Mississippi Delta — a regional growing area with its own character.

Grounded in USDA PHZM 2023 · Growable Ground suitability scoring

Score your parcel · free

West Carroll County holds more than one microclimate.

Soils and elevations shift across West Carroll 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

8b

Last Frost (state avg.)

Feb 15 - Mar 15

First Frost (state avg.)

Nov 10 - Dec 10

County Area

230K acres

Hardiness Zone Range

8b8b
3a (Cold)13b (Hot)

Growing Season

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Last frost: Feb 15 - Mar 15First frost: Nov 10 - Dec 10

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

Soil in West Carroll County

Across West Carroll County, the ground is predominantly Alfisols, where Calhoun, Grenada, and Sharkey are the most extensive named soil series. The soil is generally moderately well drained with a silt loam surface. Topsoil pH runs about 5.1–5.3, strongly acidic. Rainfall drains through hydrologic group C/D soils.

Soil order

Alfisols

Drainage

Moderately well drained

Prime farmland

98%

Hydric soils

56%

Soil still varies lot by lot — soil types explained.

Growing Challenges in Louisiana

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

Extreme humidity and rainfall promote rot and fungal diseases

Raised rows, morning base-watering, and generous spacing keep the wet at bay — extension's resistant-variety lists do the rest.

Poor drainage in delta and coastal areas

Where ground stays wet, grow up — mounded rows and raised beds keep roots breathing through the wettest months.

Hurricane damage risk from June through November

Wind-tough perennials, proper staking, and fall crops in movable containers take the sting out of storm season.

For cultivar selection, pest pressure, and planting-time guidance specific to Louisiana, the LSU AgCenter is the authoritative local source.

Safe to Grow Here?

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

Federal record: Elevated

We checked the federal record across West Carroll County207 documented sites across 6 of the 9 source types we track.

The most significant on record: 1 Superfund site. Sites tracked in EPA's Superfund program — from assessment-stage CERCLIS entries to confirmed National Priorities List cleanup sites.

There's a meaningful federal record across West Carroll 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

207

across West Carroll County

Risk Level

Elevated

Highest-severity

1 Superfund site

Severity Distribution

across West Carroll County

High2Moderate139Low66

Highest-Severity Sites

New Carroll Water System
PFAS Sampling · PFAS Detected
Proboll Pesticides
Superfund · Superfund (Non-NPL)
Bestway Grocery
Underground Storage Tanks · Open UST(S)
Bolding Family Grocery
Underground Storage Tanks · Open UST(S)
Crop Production Services INC
Underground Storage Tanks · Open UST(S)

A note from Gnorman

What an experienced grower watches for around here

In and around West Carroll County, Nitrate runs higher than the national average — 122 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 West Carroll 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

West Carroll County Average

  • USDA Zones 8b
  • 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 West Carroll County

Pull a site-specific report for your exact address in West Carroll County, Louisiana — 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 West Carroll County, Louisiana

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 8b (USDA PHZM 2023)
  • Last Spring Frost (state avg.): Feb 15 - Mar 15 (NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals)
  • First Fall Frost (state avg.): Nov 10 - Dec 10 (NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals)
  • County Land Area: 230K 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 West Carroll 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 West Carroll County, Louisiana?

West Carroll County sits in USDA hardiness zone 8b, per the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Zones reflect average annual extreme minimum temperatures from 1991–2020 weather data.

When does frost risk typically end in West Carroll County?

West Carroll County follows Louisiana's statewide frost window: last spring frost around Feb 15 - Mar 15 and first fall frost around Nov 10 - Dec 10, per NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020). Frost dates shift with elevation and local microclimate, so watch your own site's cold pockets.

What vegetables grow in West Carroll County?

West Carroll County's zone 8b supports a wide range — strong performers include Satsuma Orange, Okra, Pecan, Muscadine Grape, and Live Oak. 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 West Carroll County, really?

Officially, West Carroll County sits in USDA zone 8b (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 West Carroll County?

The federal record around West Carroll County is a meaningful one — 207 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 West Carroll County — what should I know before planting?

Start with three facts. West Carroll County sits in USDA zone 8b, which sets what survives winter; the statewide frost window runs about Feb 15 - Mar 15 to Nov 10 - Dec 10 (NOAA 30-year climate normals); and 207 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 West Carroll 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 Louisiana's frost window, season length, and soil profile against the plant's real requirements.