Fall in zone 6aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 80124 (Lone Tree, CO)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Denver Centennial AP, CO (3 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)154 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6a-10 to -5°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 80124, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
42°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 41°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Boulder 14 W (49 mi).
4-inch depth
42°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 42°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Boulder 14 W (49 mi).
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 80124 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 42°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent window is mostly past. Next: spring, when soil reaches 50°F (typically mid-April to mid-May).
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Mountain West and High Plains. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Apr 24 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 5 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 17 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Sep 25 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 8 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 20 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 15 | Oct 1 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 5 | Oct 8 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 25 | Oct 17 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 80124
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 5) and first fall frost (Oct 8). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 10–24 | May 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 24–Mar 10 | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 24–Mar 10 | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 10–24 | May 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 10–24 | Apr 14–May 5 (transplant) Apr 7–May 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–Sep 3 (transplant) Jul 30–Aug 27 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 24–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 10–24 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–Aug 13 (transplant) Jul 2–30 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 10–24 | Apr 7–May 5 (transplant) Apr 7–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–Aug 13 (transplant) Jul 2–30 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 24–Mar 10 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | Jul 2–30 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 24–Mar 10 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | Jul 2–30 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 24–Mar 10 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) | Jul 2–30 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 10–24 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | Jun 18–Jul 9 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 10–24 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 7–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 24–Apr 7 | Apr 21–May 12 (transplant) Apr 21–May 19 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 7–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 14–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 31–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 14–May 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 10–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 10–24 | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 24–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 10–24 | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 27–Sep 24 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 24–Apr 7 (transplant) | Aug 27–Sep 24 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 26–Jun 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 7–14 | May 12–26 (transplant) May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 7–14 | May 12–26 (transplant) May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 7–14 | May 12–26 (transplant) May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 7–14 | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 7–14 | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 24–Apr 7 | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 10–24 | May 12–19 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 24–Apr 7 | May 12–26 (transplant) May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 21–May 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 24–Mar 10 | Apr 21–May 5 (transplant) Apr 14–May 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 7–21 (transplant) | Jul 30–Aug 27 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Plants that do well here
Colorado has a university or garden plant program: Plant Select®. Plant frost-tender annuals after May 5 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Denver Centennial AP, CO (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00093067), elevation 5,883 ft, 3.4 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cherry Creek Dam, CO | 7 mi | May 7 | Oct 8 |
| Parker, CO | 8 mi | May 9 | Oct 3 |
| Castle Rock, CO | 8 mi | May 9 | Oct 2 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 4 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 80124
When is the last frost in 80124?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 80124 is May 5. For a more cautious planting date, use May 17, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 80124?
The average first fall freeze is October 8. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 25.
What hardiness zone is 80124?
ZIP 80124 is in USDA zone 6a (-10 to -5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 80124 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
80130 Highlands Ranch 80112 Centennial 80126 Highlands Ranch 80122 Centennial 80111 Greenwood Village 80121 Centennial 80108 Castle Pines 80129 Highlands Ranch
Other ZIP codes in Douglas County
80104 80108 80109 80116 80118 80125 80126 80129 80130 80131 80134 80135 80138 All Douglas County frost dates · Colorado frost dates
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.