McDowell County, in West Virginia, sits in USDA hardiness zone 7a — a range where zone-matched perennials and frost-aware annual timing set what succeeds.
On paper, apple, ramp, pawpaw, and sugar maple all suit these conditions — on the ground, soil, sun, and drainage make the final call.
McDowell 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
McDowell County holds more than one microclimate.
Soils and elevations shift across McDowell 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.
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Quick Facts
USDA Zones
7a
Last Hard Freeze (28°F)
Mar 13
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
341K acres
Hardiness Zone Range
Zone maps are averages across McDowell County. Your yard's slope, trees, and frost pockets shift what actually grows — see your land's exact reading.
Soil in McDowell County
Across McDowell County, the ground is predominantly Ultisols, where Pineville, Berks, and Kaymine are the most extensive named soil series. The soil is generally well drained with a channery loam surface. Topsoil pH runs about 4.1–4.3, extremely acidic. Rainfall drains through hydrologic group B soils.
Soil order
Ultisols
Drainage
Well drained
Prime farmland
1%
Hydric soils
0%
Soil still varies lot by lot — soil types explained.
What Grows in McDowell County
Plants matched to McDowell County's USDA zones 7a — each links to its full growing profile.
Is it too late to plant in McDowell County?
Too late for some crops, right on time for others — a growing season is a sequence, not a deadline. Cool-season crops can go in from around Feb 13; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Mar 13 (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. 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 West Virginia
What an experienced grower plans around here — each one has a move.
Steep terrain limits usable growing area
Grow with the hill, not against it — terraced beds turn slopes into some of the best-drained ground there is, and your extension office has terracing guidance for exactly this country.
Thin acidic soils over shale bedrock
A soil test shows exactly how thin and how acid — then lime, compost, and built-up beds put depth where shale left none.
Short mountain valley growing seasons
Valley frost pockets shorten the season — fast varieties and a cold frame give the weeks back.
For cultivar selection, pest pressure, and planting-time guidance specific to West Virginia, the WVU Extension is the authoritative local source.
Safe to Grow Here?
What the federal record shows across McDowell County — and how to grow with it.
We checked the federal record across McDowell County — 339 documented sites across 5 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 McDowell 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, USGS — 1.8M 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.
Sources Checked
across McDowell County
Severity Distribution
across McDowell County
Highest-Severity Sites
A note from Gnorman
What an experienced grower watches for around here
In and around McDowell County, Nitrate runs higher than the national average — 136 sites nearby. That's not a problem with your land — it's information about 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).
Check your specific parcel in McDowell 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:
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
McDowell 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
Read your parcel in McDowell County
Pull a site-specific report for your exact address in McDowell County, West Virginia — soil, sun, drainage, frost risk, and scored plant recommendations.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
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 McDowell County, West Virginia
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 7a (USDA PHZM 2023)
- Last Hard Freeze (28°F): Mar 13 (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: ~250 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals)
- County Land Area: 341K 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 McDowell 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 McDowell County, West Virginia?
McDowell 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 McDowell County?
Too late for some crops, right on time for others — a growing season is a sequence, not a deadline. Cool-season crops can go in from around Feb 13; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Mar 13 (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. 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 McDowell County?
The last hard freeze (28°F) in McDowell County typically lands around Mar 13, 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 McDowell County?
Measured between 28°F hard freezes, McDowell County sees about 250 frost-free days — roughly Mar 13 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 McDowell County?
McDowell County's zone 7a supports a wide range — strong performers include Apple, Ramp, Pawpaw, Sugar Maple, and Ginseng. 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 McDowell County, really?
Officially, McDowell 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 McDowell County?
The federal record around McDowell County is a meaningful one — 339 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 McDowell County — what should I know before planting?
Start with three facts. McDowell County sits in USDA zone 7a, which sets what survives winter; the last 28°F hard freeze typically clears around Mar 13, with about 250 frost-free days to work with (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and 339 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 McDowell 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 West Virginia's frost window, season length, and soil profile against the plant's real requirements.