What Grows in Garfield County, Washington

USDA Zones 7a · 455K acres

Garfield County, in Washington, sits in USDA hardiness zone 7a — a zone band wide enough that plant choice, not possibility, is the interesting question.

Reliable performers under these conditions include apple, cherry, hop, and grape; what your own ground favors still comes down to its soil, sun, and drainage.

Garfield County lies within the Columbia Basin — 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

Garfield County holds more than one microclimate.

Soils and elevations shift across Garfield 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

7a

Last Hard Freeze (28°F)

Mar 24

County normal — light frosts run a few weeks later

First Hard Freeze (28°F)

Nov 8

County normal — light frosts arrive a few weeks earlier

County Area

455K acres

Hardiness Zone Range

7a7a
3a (Cold)13b (Hot)

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

Soil in Garfield County

Across Garfield County, the ground is predominantly Mollisols, where Athena, Lickskillet, and Limberjim are the most extensive named soil series. The soil is generally well drained with a silt loam surface. Topsoil pH runs about 6.7–7.2, neutral. Rainfall drains through hydrologic group D soils.

Soil order

Mollisols

Drainage

Well drained

Prime farmland

4%

Hydric soils

0%

Soil still varies lot by lot — soil types explained.

Is it too late to plant in Garfield 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 24; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Mar 24 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Nov 8 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. With a season this long, “too late” mostly means “switch crops” — second sowings and a full fall garden are the norm, with garlic closing the year.

Growing Challenges in Washington

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

Extreme rain divide: 90+ inches west, 6 inches east of Cascades

Plant to your side of the Cascades, not to the state — your exact spot's rainfall decides the whole plan.

East side requires irrigation — no rain from June through September

With no summer rain, drip lines and deep mulch are the growing season — set them up before June.

Slug and root rot pressure on the wet west side

Raise the beds, bait the slugs, and water mornings only — the wet-side trio that keeps roots and leaves healthy; extension has the details.

Short seasons at elevation in the Cascades and northeast corners

In the short-season corners, fast varieties plus a cold frame or tunnel reliably close the gap.

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

Safe to Grow Here?

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

Federal record: Low

We checked the federal record across Garfield County47 documented sites across 5 of the 9 source types we track.

The most significant on record: 1 Toxics Release Inventory facility. Active industrial facilities reporting chemical releases to air, water, and land.

The federal record across Garfield 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

47

across Garfield County

Risk Level

Low

Highest-severity

1 Toxics Release Inventory facility

Severity Distribution

across Garfield County

High0Moderate12Low35

Highest-Severity Sites

11N/42E-05c01 Pas13
Nitrate Monitoring · Well
11N/42E-05c01 Pas13
Nitrate Monitoring · Well
12N/42E-31l01 Pas14
Nitrate Monitoring · Well
12N/42E-31l01 Pas14
Nitrate Monitoring · Well
14N/43E-30j01
Nitrate Monitoring · Well

A note from Gnorman

What an experienced grower watches for around here

In and around Garfield County, Underground Storage Tanks runs higher than the national average — 35 sites nearby. That's not a problem with your land — it's information about it.

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

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

Free Report

Check your specific parcel in Garfield 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

Garfield County Average

  • USDA Zones 7a
  • 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 Garfield County

Pull a site-specific report for your exact address in Garfield County, Washington — 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 Garfield County, Washington

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 7a (USDA PHZM 2023)
  • Last Hard Freeze (28°F): Mar 24 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can follow for a few weeks)
  • First Hard Freeze (28°F): Nov 8 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can arrive a few weeks earlier)
  • Days Between Hard Freezes: ~229 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals)
  • County Land Area: 455K 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 Garfield 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 Garfield County, Washington?

Garfield County sits in USDA hardiness zone 7a, 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 Garfield 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 24; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Mar 24 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Nov 8 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. With a season this long, “too late” mostly means “switch crops” — second sowings and a full fall garden are the norm, with garlic closing the year.

When does frost risk typically end in Garfield County?

The last hard freeze (28°F) in Garfield County typically lands around Mar 24, 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 Garfield County?

Measured between 28°F hard freezes, Garfield County sees about 229 frost-free days — roughly Mar 24 through Nov 8, 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 Garfield County?

Garfield County's zone 7a supports a wide range — strong performers include Apple, Cherry, Hop, Grape, and Blueberry. 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 Garfield County, really?

Officially, Garfield County sits in USDA zone 7a (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 Garfield County?

The federal record around Garfield County is light — 47 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 Garfield County — what should I know before planting?

Start with three facts. Garfield County sits in USDA zone 7a, which sets what survives winter; the last 28°F hard freeze typically clears around Mar 24, with about 229 frost-free days to work with (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and the local federal record is light — 47 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 Garfield 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.