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What can I grow here, and when?
Frost dates, planting zones, soil types, and what actually thrives in Missouri — from mountains to coast.
Frost dates & zones
Missouri spans USDA zones 5b (northwest MO / St. Joseph area) to 7a (southeast MO Bootheel). Verify your exact zone and frost dates with your county Extension office — elevation and microclimates create real variation.
Hardiness Zones
5b (northwest MO / St. Joseph area) to 7a (southeast MO Bootheel)
Last frost: varies by region. First frost: varies by region.
Look up your exact zone by ZIP at USDA →What grows well here
Ozark soils are acidic and thin — lime and compost are essential. Northern MO loess soils are productive but may need potassium. Bootheel alluvial soils rarely need lime. MU Extension county soil testing available statewide.
Know your soil
Missouri soils vary widely. The Bootheel has deep, productive alluvial soils — some of the best cotton and soybean land in the country. Central Missouri Ozark soils are thin, rocky, and acidic. Northern Missouri has productive loess soils over clay. The Missouri River bottomlands have rich silt loam.
Map your soil type with USDA Web Soil Survey →Free soil testing
Free or low-cost soil testing available through your county Extension office
Results include specific lime and fertilizer recommendations
Most states offer testing April through fall — fees apply in winter
Results typically returned within 10 business days
Next steps
Preserve what you grow
Missouri Extension offers food preservation workshops — and NWS has the full canning guides.
Food IndependenceGet the checklist
Spring prep, frost protection, soil test timing, and compost setup — timed to regional frost dates.
MO Checklists