What Grows in Uinta County, Wyoming

USDA Zones 5b · 1.3M acres

Uinta County, in Wyoming, sits in USDA hardiness zone 5b — enough range to grow cool-season vegetables, hardy fruit, and warm-season crops that mature before the first hard frost.

The conditions favor potato, indian paintbrush, cottonwood, and rhubarb, among others — though every individual site edits that list 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

Uinta County holds more than one microclimate.

Soils and elevations shift across Uinta 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

5b

Last Hard Freeze (28°F)

May 7

County normal — light frosts run a few weeks later

First Hard Freeze (28°F)

Oct 9

County normal — light frosts arrive a few weeks earlier

County Area

1.3M acres

Hardiness Zone Range

5b5b
3a (Cold)13b (Hot)

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

Soil in Uinta County

Across Uinta County, the ground is predominantly Mollisols, where Millburne, Groshon, and Hickey are the most extensive named soil series. The soil is generally well drained with a sandy loam surface. Topsoil pH runs about 7.2–8.0, slightly alkaline. Rainfall drains through hydrologic group B/D soils.

Soil order

Mollisols

Drainage

Well drained

Hydric soils

19%

Soil still varies lot by lot — soil types explained.

What Grows in Uinta County

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

Is it too late to plant in Uinta County?

Rarely: the season closes in stages, not all at once, and each stage has its crops. Cool-season crops can go in from around Apr 9; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near May 7 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Oct 9 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. Late in the year the fall bench takes over — quick greens, radishes, and garlic that repays you next summer.

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 Uinta County — and how to grow with it.

Federal record: Elevated

We checked the federal record across Uinta County342 documented sites across 4 of the 9 source types we track.

The most significant on record: 8 Toxics Release Inventory facilities. Active industrial facilities reporting chemical releases to air, water, and land.

There's a meaningful federal record across Uinta 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, 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

342

across Uinta County

Risk Level

Elevated

Highest-severity

8 Toxics Release Inventory facilities

Severity Distribution

across Uinta County

High0Moderate144Low198

Highest-Severity Sites

12-119-06dbd02
Nitrate Monitoring · Well
12-119-06dbd02
Nitrate Monitoring · Well
12-119-07bbc01
Nitrate Monitoring · Well
12-119-07bbc01
Nitrate Monitoring · Well
12-120-12ba 01
Nitrate Monitoring · Well

A note from Gnorman

What an experienced grower watches for around here

In and around Uinta County, Nitrate runs higher than the national average — 110 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 Uinta 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

Uinta County Average

  • USDA Zones 5b
  • 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 Uinta County

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

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 5b (USDA PHZM 2023)
  • Last Hard Freeze (28°F): May 7 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can follow for a few weeks)
  • First Hard Freeze (28°F): Oct 9 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can arrive a few weeks earlier)
  • Days Between Hard Freezes: ~155 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals)
  • County Land Area: 1.3M 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 Uinta 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 Uinta County, Wyoming?

Uinta County sits in USDA hardiness zone 5b, 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 Uinta County?

Rarely: the season closes in stages, not all at once, and each stage has its crops. Cool-season crops can go in from around Apr 9; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near May 7 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Oct 9 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. Late in the year the fall bench takes over — quick greens, radishes, and garlic that repays you next summer.

When does frost risk typically end in Uinta County?

The last hard freeze (28°F) in Uinta County typically lands around May 7, 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 Uinta County?

Measured between 28°F hard freezes, Uinta County sees about 155 frost-free days — roughly May 7 through Oct 9, 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 Uinta County?

Uinta County's zone 5b 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 Uinta County, really?

Officially, Uinta County sits in USDA zone 5b (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 Uinta County?

The federal record around Uinta County is a meaningful one — 342 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 Uinta County — what should I know before planting?

Start with three facts. Uinta County sits in USDA zone 5b, which sets what survives winter; the last 28°F hard freeze typically clears around May 7, with about 155 frost-free days to work with (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and 342 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 Uinta 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.