Fall in zone 5bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 80549 (Wellington, 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, Virginia Dale 7 ENE, CO (12 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 3150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 1950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)110 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone5b-15 to -10°F avg. coldest night
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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
49°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 49°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Nunn 7 NNE, 15 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 51°, Fri 48°, Sat 49°.
4-inch depth
51°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 53°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Nunn 7 NNE, 15 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 55°, Fri 52°, Sat 51°.
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 80549 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 51°F at 4 inches. 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) | May 17 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 31 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 15 |
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 5 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 19 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 1 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jun 14 | Sep 8 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 31 | Sep 19 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 16 | Sep 29 |
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 80549
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 31) and first fall frost (Sep 19). 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 | Apr 5–19 | Jun 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 22–Apr 5 | Jun 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 22–Apr 5 | Jun 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Apr 5–19 | Jun 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Apr 5–19 | May 10–31 (transplant) May 3–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 15 (transplant) Jul 11–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 19–May 10 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 15 (sowing) |
| Kale | Apr 5–19 | May 3–17 (transplant) May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Jun 27–Jul 25 (transplant) Jun 13–Jul 11 (sowing) |
| Collards | Apr 5–19 | May 3–31 (transplant) May 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Jun 27–Jul 25 (transplant) Jun 13–Jul 11 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 22–Apr 5 | May 3–17 (transplant) | Jun 13–Jul 11 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 22–Apr 5 | May 3–17 (transplant) | Jun 13–Jul 11 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 22–Apr 5 | May 17–31 (transplant) | Jun 13–Jul 11 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 8–22 | May 3–17 (transplant) | May 30–Jun 20 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 5–19 | May 3–17 (transplant) May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–25 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | May 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | May 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 19–May 3 | May 17–Jun 7 (transplant) May 17–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–25 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | May 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–25 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 10–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | Jun 27–Jul 11 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 26–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | May 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–25 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 10–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Apr 5–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Jun 27–Jul 11 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 8–22 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 19–May 17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–25 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 8–22 | May 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 8–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | May 3–17 (transplant) | May 30–Jun 13 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 21–Jul 5 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 21–Jul 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | May 3–10 | Jun 7–21 (transplant) Jun 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | May 3–10 | Jun 7–21 (transplant) Jun 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | May 3–10 | Jun 7–21 (transplant) Jun 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | May 3–10 | Jun 14–28 (transplant) Jun 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | May 3–10 | Jun 14–28 (transplant) Jun 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 19–May 3 | Jun 14–28 (transplant) Jun 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 8–22 | Jun 7–14 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 19–May 3 | Jun 7–21 (transplant) Jun 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 17–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 22–Apr 5 | May 17–31 (transplant) May 10–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 31–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 31–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | May 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | May 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | May 3–17 (transplant) | Jul 11–Aug 8 (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 31 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Virginia Dale 7 ENE, CO (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00058690), elevation 7,015 ft, 11.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nunn 7 NNE, CO | 15 mi | May 13 | Sep 27 |
| Ft Collins 4 E, CO | 20 mi | May 3 | Oct 6 |
| Ft Collins, CO | 20 mi | May 2 | Oct 7 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 29 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 80549
When is the last frost in 80549?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 80549 is May 31. For a more cautious planting date, use June 15, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 80549?
The average first fall freeze is September 19. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 5.
What hardiness zone is 80549?
ZIP 80549 is in USDA zone 5b (-15 to -10°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 80549 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
80535 Laporte 80612 80524 Fort Collins 82059 80648 Nunn 80536 82001 Cheyenne 80521 Fort Collins
Other ZIP codes in Larimer County
80512 80513 80515 80517 80521 80524 80525 80526 80528 80532 80535 80536 80537 80538 80545 80547 82063 All Larimer County frost dates · Colorado frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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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.