What Grows in Fremont County, Wyoming

USDA Zones 5a · 5.9M acres

Fremont County, in Wyoming, sits in USDA hardiness zone 5a — a range where zone-matched perennials and frost-aware annual timing set what succeeds.

These conditions suit potato, indian paintbrush, cottonwood, and rhubarb — a starting list any specific site will trim or extend with its own soil, sun, and drainage.

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

Score your parcel · free

Fremont County holds more than one microclimate.

Soils and elevations shift across Fremont 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

5a

Last Hard Freeze (28°F)

Apr 23

County normal — light frosts run a few weeks later

First Hard Freeze (28°F)

Oct 16

County normal — light frosts arrive a few weeks earlier

County Area

5.9M acres

Hardiness Zone Range

5a5a
3a (Cold)13b (Hot)

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

Soil in Fremont County

Across Fremont County, the ground is predominantly Aridisols, where Bosler, Rock River, and Persayo are the most extensive named soil series. The soil is generally well drained with a loam surface. Topsoil pH runs about 7.2–8.2, slightly alkaline. Rainfall drains through hydrologic group B soils.

Soil order

Aridisols

Drainage

Well drained

Hydric soils

2%

Soil still varies lot by lot — soil types explained.

What Grows in Fremont County

Plants matched to Fremont County's USDA zones 5a — each links to its full growing profile.

Is it too late to plant in Fremont 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 Mar 26; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Apr 23 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Oct 16 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. The tail of the season still works: sixty-day crops into late summer, quick greens after, garlic last of all.

Growing Challenges in Wyoming

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

Extremely short growing season (60-90 frost-free days)

At 60-90 frost-free days, a greenhouse or high tunnel isn't optional equipment — it's where the season actually happens.

Very low rainfall requires irrigation

Drip irrigation under mulch makes scarce water go the distance — build the system before the first bed.

Persistent high winds desiccate and damage plants

Windbreaks first, plants second — a sheltered bed loses a fraction of the moisture an exposed one does.

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

Safe to Grow Here?

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

Federal record: High

We checked the federal record across Fremont County821 documented sites across 8 of the 9 source types we track.

The most significant on record: 4 Superfund sites. Sites tracked in EPA's Superfund program — from assessment-stage CERCLIS entries to confirmed National Priorities List cleanup sites.

Fremont 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

821

across Fremont County

Risk Level

High

Highest-severity

4 Superfund sites

Severity Distribution

across Fremont County

High13Moderate471Low337

Highest-Severity Sites

B&H Mining Company
Mining Sites · Past Producer
Carissa Mine
Mining Sites · Past Producer
Diana Mine
Mining Sites · Past Producer
First Fike Subdivision
PFAS Sampling · PFAS Detected
Fort Washakie
PFAS Sampling · PFAS Detected

A note from Gnorman

What an experienced grower watches for around here

In and around Fremont County, Nitrate runs higher than the national average — 414 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).

Free Report

Check your specific parcel in Fremont 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

Fremont County Average

  • USDA Zones 5a
  • 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 Fremont County

Pull a site-specific report for your exact address in Fremont County, Wyoming — 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 Fremont County, Wyoming

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 5a (USDA PHZM 2023)
  • Last Hard Freeze (28°F): Apr 23 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can follow for a few weeks)
  • First Hard Freeze (28°F): Oct 16 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can arrive a few weeks earlier)
  • Days Between Hard Freezes: ~176 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals)
  • County Land Area: 5.9M 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 Fremont 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 Fremont County, Wyoming?

Fremont County sits in USDA hardiness zone 5a, 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 Fremont 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 Mar 26; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Apr 23 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Oct 16 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. The tail of the season still works: sixty-day crops into late summer, quick greens after, garlic last of all.

When does frost risk typically end in Fremont County?

The last hard freeze (28°F) in Fremont County typically lands around Apr 23, 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 Fremont County?

Measured between 28°F hard freezes, Fremont County sees about 176 frost-free days — roughly Apr 23 through Oct 16, 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 Fremont County?

Fremont County's zone 5a supports a wide range — strong performers include Potato, Indian Paintbrush, Cottonwood, Rhubarb, and Chokecherry. 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 Fremont County, really?

Officially, Fremont County sits in USDA zone 5a (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 Fremont County?

The federal record around Fremont County runs heavier than most — 821 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 Fremont County — what should I know before planting?

Start with three facts. Fremont County sits in USDA zone 5a, which sets what survives winter; the last 28°F hard freeze typically clears around Apr 23, with about 176 frost-free days to work with (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and 821 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 Fremont 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 Wyoming's frost window, season length, and soil profile against the plant's real requirements.