Frost dates for ZIP 80817 (Fountain, 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, Colorado Springs Muni AP, CO (15 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 350% 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)158 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6a-10 to -5°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 17, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
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 80817 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring 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 22 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 3 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 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 26 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 8 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 19 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 14 | Oct 1 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 3 | Oct 8 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 24 | Oct 16 |
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 80817
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 3) 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 8–22 | May 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 22–Mar 8 | May 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 22–Mar 8 | May 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 8–22 | May 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 8–22 | Apr 12–May 3 (transplant) Apr 5–May 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–Sep 3 (transplant) Jul 30–Aug 27 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 22–Apr 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 8–22 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–Aug 13 (transplant) Jul 2–30 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 8–22 | Apr 5–May 3 (transplant) Apr 5–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–Aug 13 (transplant) Jul 2–30 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 2–30 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 2–30 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | Jul 2–30 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 8–22 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | Jun 18–Jul 9 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 8–22 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 5–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 22–Apr 5 | Apr 19–May 10 (transplant) Apr 19–May 17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 5–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 12–May 10 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 29–May 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 12–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 8–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 8–22 | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 22–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 8–22 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 27–Sep 24 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 22–Apr 5 (transplant) | Aug 27–Sep 24 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 24–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 5–12 | May 10–24 (transplant) May 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 5–12 | May 10–24 (transplant) May 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 5–12 | May 10–24 (transplant) May 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 5–12 | May 17–31 (transplant) May 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 5–12 | May 17–31 (transplant) May 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 22–Apr 5 | May 17–31 (transplant) May 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 8–22 | May 10–17 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 22–Apr 5 | May 10–24 (transplant) May 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 19–May 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 12–May 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 5–19 (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 3 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Colorado Springs Muni AP, CO (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00093037), elevation 6,181 ft, 15.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ellicott 7S, CO | 18 mi | May 6 | Oct 3 |
| Pueblo Mem AP, CO | 23 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 9 |
| Pueblo Rsvr, CO | 23 mi | Apr 26 | Oct 13 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 11 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 80817
When is the last frost in 80817?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 80817 is May 3. For a more cautious planting date, use May 15, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 80817?
The average first fall freeze is October 8. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 26.
What hardiness zone is 80817?
ZIP 80817 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 80817 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
80913 Fort Carson 80902 Fort Carson 80911 Security-Widefield 80926 Rock Creek Park 80925 Colorado Springs 81008 Pueblo 80916 Colorado Springs 80928
Other ZIP codes in El Paso County
80132 80133 80808 80809 80819 80829 80831 80840 80864 80902 80903 80904 80905 80906 80907 80908 80909 80910 80911 80913 80914 80915 80916 80917 All El Paso County frost dates · Colorado frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
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.