What Grows in Warren County, Ohio

USDA Zones 6b · 257K acres

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

On paper, tomato, sweet corn, apple, and pawpaw 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.

No card required · your full report in seconds

Quick Facts

USDA Zones

6b

Last Hard Freeze (28°F)

Mar 14

County normal — light frosts run a few weeks later

First Hard Freeze (28°F)

Nov 24

County normal — light frosts arrive a few weeks earlier

County Area

257K acres

Hardiness Zone Range

6b6b
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 Alfisols, where Miamian, Russell, and Clermont are the most extensive named soil series. The soil is generally well drained with a silt loam surface. Topsoil pH runs about 5.9–6.7, slightly acidic. Rainfall drains through hydrologic group C soils.

Soil order

Alfisols

Drainage

Well drained

Prime farmland

34%

Hydric soils

14%

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 14; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Mar 14 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Nov 24 — 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 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 Warren County — and how to grow with it.

Federal record: High

We checked the federal record across Warren County634 documented sites across 6 of the 9 source types we track.

The most significant on record: 9 Superfund sites. Sites tracked in EPA's Superfund program — from assessment-stage CERCLIS entries to confirmed National Priorities List cleanup sites.

Warren County carries one of the heavier federal records we track — and that's not a verdict on your yard. Proximity to a documented site is information, not a diagnosis: nothing here says any particular parcel is affected. It does earn one concrete step — before food beds go in the ground, a professional soil test tells you exactly what you're working with, and raised beds with clean imported soil grow well almost anywhere in the meantime.

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

634

across Warren County

Risk Level

High

Highest-severity

9 Superfund sites

Severity Distribution

across Warren County

High13Moderate182Low439

Highest-Severity Sites

Franklin Ohio Residential Mercury Spill
Superfund · Superfund (Non-NPL)
Franklin Public Water System
PFAS Sampling · PFAS Detected
Franklin VOC Plume
Superfund · Superfund (Non-NPL)
Jacamar Emergency Response
Superfund · Superfund (Non-NPL)
Kings Island Pws
PFAS Sampling · PFAS Detected

A note from Gnorman

What an experienced grower watches for around here

In and around Warren County, two things run higher than the national average — PFAS (9 sites) and Toxic Release Inventory (65 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.

Toxic Release Inventory: TRI facilities report annual chemical releases to air, water, and land.

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

Check prevailing wind direction — downwind parcels face higher exposure than upwind or crosswind locations.

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 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 Warren County

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

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 6b (USDA PHZM 2023)
  • Last Hard Freeze (28°F): Mar 14 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can follow for a few weeks)
  • First Hard Freeze (28°F): Nov 24 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can arrive a few weeks earlier)
  • Days Between Hard Freezes: ~255 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals)
  • County Land Area: 257K 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, Ohio?

Warren 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 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 14; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Mar 14 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Nov 24 — 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 14, 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 255 frost-free days — roughly Mar 14 through Nov 24, 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 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 Warren County, really?

Officially, Warren 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 Warren County?

The federal record around Warren County runs heavier than most — 634 documented sites — so test the soil before planting food in the ground, and raised beds with clean imported soil grow well in the meantime. Even here, proximity to a documented site is information, not a diagnosis of any one yard; the contamination map shows exactly what's recorded and where.

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

Start with three facts. Warren County sits in USDA zone 6b, which sets what survives winter; the last 28°F hard freeze typically clears around Mar 14, with about 255 frost-free days to work with (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and 634 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 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 Ohio's frost window, season length, and soil profile against the plant's real requirements.