What Grows in Meigs County, Ohio

USDA Zones 6b · 275K acres

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

Growers here do well with tomato, sweet corn, apple, and pawpaw — with the usual caveat that any single yard's soil, sun, and drainage cast the deciding vote.

Meigs County lies within Appalachia — 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

Meigs County holds more than one microclimate.

Soils and elevations shift across Meigs 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 16

County normal — light frosts run a few weeks later

First Hard Freeze (28°F)

Nov 22

County normal — light frosts arrive a few weeks earlier

County Area

275K acres

Hardiness Zone Range

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

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

Soil in Meigs County

Across Meigs County, the ground is predominantly Alfisols, where Upshur, Gilpin, and Chagrin are the most extensive named soil series. The soil is generally well drained with a silt loam surface. Topsoil pH runs about 5.3–5.5, strongly acidic. Rainfall drains through hydrologic group C soils.

Soil order

Alfisols

Drainage

Well drained

Prime farmland

5%

Hydric soils

0%

Soil still varies lot by lot — soil types explained.

Is it too late to plant in Meigs County?

Almost never — the real question is what to plant next. Cool-season crops can go in from around Feb 16; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Mar 16 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Nov 22 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. There is slack in a calendar like this — late plantings, second rounds of favorites, and a fall bench that keeps beds working.

Growing Challenges in Ohio

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

Heavy clay soils across much of northern Ohio require amendment for drainage

A raised bed fixes the drainage in one weekend — and amended clay repays the effort as some of the richest soil there is.

Variable spring weather with late frost risk through mid-May

Watch your local last-frost normal, not the region's — holding tender plants two extra weeks beats replanting a bed.

Japanese beetles and tomato hornworms are common garden pests

Hand-pick early, row-cover young plants, and skip broad sprays — extension IPM guides keep the beneficial insects on your side.

Wet springs can delay planting and promote root rot

Raised or mounded rows shed spring water and warm earlier — where puddles linger, drainage is the first project worth doing.

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

Safe to Grow Here?

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

Federal record: Moderate

We checked the federal record across Meigs County138 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 Meigs County is a modest one — a typical footprint for a growing area. Nothing here calls for alarm; it's worth knowing which recorded sites sit closest to where you grow, and each one on the map carries its type and location. If one turns out to be a near neighbor, a one-time soil test settles the question.

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

138

across Meigs County

Risk Level

Moderate

Highest-severity

2 Toxics Release Inventory facilities

Severity Distribution

across Meigs County

High2Moderate26Low110

Highest-Severity Sites

Gallia CO Rural Water Association
PFAS Sampling · PFAS Detected
Leading Creek Conservancy District
PFAS Sampling · PFAS Detected
Arbors at Pomeroy
Underground Storage Tanks · Open UST(S)
Carol'S Stop N Pump LLC
Underground Storage Tanks · Open UST(S)
Five Points Express
Underground Storage Tanks · Open UST(S)

A note from Gnorman

What an experienced grower watches for around here

In and around Meigs County, two things run higher than the national average — PFAS (3 sites) and Underground Storage Tanks (89 sites). That's not a problem with your land — it's information about it.

PFAS: PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are called "forever chemicals" because they do not biodegrade.

Underground Storage Tanks: Underground storage tanks are the single most common source of soil contamination near homes and gardens.

Test irrigation water source — this is the primary pathway for PFAS to reach garden crops.

Use raised beds with imported soil — this eliminates the primary soil-contact pathway.

Free Report

Check your specific parcel in Meigs 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

Meigs 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 Meigs County

Pull a site-specific report for your exact address in Meigs County, Ohio — 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 Meigs County, Ohio

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 6b (USDA PHZM 2023)
  • Last Hard Freeze (28°F): Mar 16 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can follow for a few weeks)
  • First Hard Freeze (28°F): Nov 22 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can arrive a few weeks earlier)
  • Days Between Hard Freezes: ~251 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals)
  • County Land Area: 275K 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 Meigs 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 Meigs County, Ohio?

Meigs 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 Meigs County?

Almost never — the real question is what to plant next. Cool-season crops can go in from around Feb 16; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Mar 16 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Nov 22 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. There is slack in a calendar like this — late plantings, second rounds of favorites, and a fall bench that keeps beds working.

When does frost risk typically end in Meigs County?

The last hard freeze (28°F) in Meigs County typically lands around Mar 16, 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 Meigs County?

Measured between 28°F hard freezes, Meigs County sees about 251 frost-free days — roughly Mar 16 through Nov 22, 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 Meigs County?

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

Officially, Meigs 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 Meigs County?

The federal record around Meigs County shows 138 documented sites — a typical footprint for a growing area, and proximity to a documented site is information, not a diagnosis of any one yard. It's worth seeing which recorded sites sit closest to where you grow, and testing the soil before new food beds near any of them.

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

Start with three facts. Meigs County sits in USDA zone 6b, which sets what survives winter; the last 28°F hard freeze typically clears around Mar 16, with about 251 frost-free days to work with (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and 138 documented sites sit on the federal record — a typical footprint for a growing area, worth a look on the contamination map before food beds. From there, matching plants to your actual soil and sun is the fun part.

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