What Grows in Lipscomb County, Texas

USDA Zones 6b · 597K acres

Lipscomb County, in Texas, sits in USDA hardiness zone 6b — a band that supports both cool-season staples and warm-season crops chosen to fit the local frost window.

Among the crops suited to this profile: pecan, tomato, okra, and bluebonnet. The site-level story — soil, sun, drainage — decides the rest.

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

Score your parcel · free

Lipscomb County holds more than one microclimate.

Soils and elevations shift across Lipscomb 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 9

County normal — light frosts run a few weeks later

First Hard Freeze (28°F)

Nov 18

County normal — light frosts arrive a few weeks earlier

County Area

597K acres

Hardiness Zone Range

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

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

Soil in Lipscomb County

Across Lipscomb County, the ground is predominantly Mollisols, where Mobeetie, Grandfield, and Devol are the most extensive named soil series. The soil is generally well drained with a loam surface. Topsoil pH runs about 7.0–8.1, slightly alkaline. Rainfall drains through hydrologic group B soils.

Soil order

Mollisols

Drainage

Well drained

Prime farmland

27%

Hydric soils

0%

Soil still varies lot by lot — soil types explained.

Is it too late to plant in Lipscomb County?

Usually not — gardeners here simply switch what goes in the ground as the season moves. Cool-season crops can go in from around Feb 9; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Mar 9 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Nov 18 — 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 Texas

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

Extreme heat (100F+ days) stresses many crops from June through September

Run the garden on spring and fall windows and give summer survivors afternoon shade — timing beats fighting the heat.

Rainfall varies dramatically — 8 inches in west TX to 56 inches in east TX

Your county's rainfall, not the state's, sets the watering plan — check your exact spot before designing beds.

Heavy black clay (Blackland Prairie) is difficult to work and drains poorly

A raised bed with amended soil turns Blackland clay from an obstacle into a backdrop — and that clay feeds deep roots well.

Flash drought conditions can develop rapidly even in wet years

Mulch deep and water deeply-but-rarely to grow drought-tough roots; a drip system pays for itself in the first dry summer.

For cultivar selection, pest pressure, and planting-time guidance specific to Texas, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service is the authoritative local source.

Safe to Grow Here?

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

Federal record: Moderate

We checked the federal record across Lipscomb County68 documented sites across 4 of the 9 source types we track.

The most significant on record: 8 concentrated animal feeding operations. Large-scale animal operations that can contaminate soil and groundwater with nitrates and pathogens.

The federal record across Lipscomb 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

68

across Lipscomb County

Risk Level

Moderate

Highest-severity

8 concentrated animal feeding operations

Severity Distribution

across Lipscomb County

High0Moderate36Low32

Highest-Severity Sites

Allsups 70
Underground Storage Tanks · Open UST(S)
Booker Fuel
Underground Storage Tanks · Open UST(S)
Canadian Feedyard
Concentrated Animal Feeding · Effective
Creek Feeders
Concentrated Animal Feeding · Effective
Follett Oil
Underground Storage Tanks · Open UST(S)

A note from Gnorman

What an experienced grower watches for around here

In and around Lipscomb County, CAFO runs higher than the national average — 8 sites nearby. Knowing it is half the work — and it's nothing a thoughtful grower can't plan for.

CAFO: CAFOs pose a different contamination profile than chemical sources.

Wash all produce consumed raw thoroughly, especially leafy greens grown near CAFOs.

Free Report

Check your specific parcel in Lipscomb 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

Lipscomb 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 Lipscomb County

Pull a site-specific report for your exact address in Lipscomb County, Texas — 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 Lipscomb County, Texas

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 6b (USDA PHZM 2023)
  • Last Hard Freeze (28°F): Mar 9 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can follow for a few weeks)
  • First Hard Freeze (28°F): Nov 18 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can arrive a few weeks earlier)
  • Days Between Hard Freezes: ~254 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals)
  • County Land Area: 597K 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 Lipscomb 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 Lipscomb County, Texas?

Lipscomb 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 Lipscomb County?

Usually not — gardeners here simply switch what goes in the ground as the season moves. Cool-season crops can go in from around Feb 9; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Mar 9 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Nov 18 — 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 Lipscomb County?

The last hard freeze (28°F) in Lipscomb County typically lands around Mar 9, 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 Lipscomb County?

Measured between 28°F hard freezes, Lipscomb County sees about 254 frost-free days — roughly Mar 9 through Nov 18, 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 Lipscomb County?

Lipscomb County's zone 6b supports a wide range — strong performers include Pecan, Tomato, Okra, Bluebonnet, and Jalapeno. 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 Lipscomb County, really?

Officially, Lipscomb 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 Lipscomb County?

The federal record around Lipscomb County shows 68 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 Lipscomb County — what should I know before planting?

Start with three facts. Lipscomb County sits in USDA zone 6b, which sets what survives winter; the last 28°F hard freeze typically clears around Mar 9, with about 254 frost-free days to work with (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and 68 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 Lipscomb 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 Texas's frost window, season length, and soil profile against the plant's real requirements.