Fall in zone 6aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 81039 (Fowler, 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, La Junta 17 WSW, CO (15 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 450% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)148 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 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
53°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 55°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station La Junta 17 WSW, 15 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 58°, Fri 54°, Sat 53°.
4-inch depth
55°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 56°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station La Junta 17 WSW, 15 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 60°, Fri 57°, Sat 55°.
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 81039 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 55°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) | Apr 26 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 8 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 25 |
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 24 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 4 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 15 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 20 | Sep 28 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 8 | Oct 4 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 29 | Oct 11 |
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 81039
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 8) and first fall frost (Oct 4). 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 13–27 | May 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 27–Mar 13 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 27–Mar 13 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 13–27 | May 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 13–27 | Apr 17–May 8 (transplant) Apr 10–May 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–30 (transplant) Jul 26–Aug 23 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 27–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–30 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 13–27 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Jul 12–Aug 9 (transplant) Jun 28–Jul 26 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 13–27 | Apr 10–May 8 (transplant) Apr 10–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 12–Aug 9 (transplant) Jun 28–Jul 26 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Jun 28–Jul 26 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Jun 28–Jul 26 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | Jun 28–Jul 26 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 13–27 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Jun 14–Jul 5 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 13–27 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Jul 26–Aug 9 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 10–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 10–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 27–Apr 10 | Apr 24–May 15 (transplant) Apr 24–May 22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 26–Aug 9 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 10–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 26–Aug 9 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 17–May 15 (sow outdoors) | Jul 12–26 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 3–May 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 10–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Jul 26–Aug 9 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 17–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 13–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Jul 12–26 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 13–27 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 27–Apr 24 (sow outdoors) | Jul 26–Aug 9 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 13–27 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 23–Sep 20 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) | Aug 23–Sep 20 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Jun 14–28 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 29–Jun 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 10–17 | May 15–29 (transplant) May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 10–17 | May 15–29 (transplant) May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 10–17 | May 15–29 (transplant) May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 10–17 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 10–17 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 27–Apr 10 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 13–27 | May 15–22 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 27–Apr 10 | May 15–29 (transplant) May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 24–May 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) Apr 17–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 23 (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 8 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: La Junta 17 WSW, CO (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00003063), elevation 4,386 ft, 15.2 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Ford 2 SE, CO | 22 mi | May 1 | Oct 8 |
| Ordway 1 ENE, CO | 27 mi | May 2 | Oct 8 |
| Tacony 13 SE, CO | 28 mi | May 5 | Oct 6 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 7 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 81039
When is the last frost in 81039?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 81039 is May 8. For a more cautious planting date, use May 25, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 81039?
The average first fall freeze is October 4. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 24.
What hardiness zone is 81039?
ZIP 81039 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 81039 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
81058 Manzanola 81022 Avondale 81067 Rocky Ford 81033 Crowley 81062 Olney Springs 81077 Swink 81059 81006 Blende
Other ZIP codes in Pueblo County
81001 81003 81004 81005 81006 81007 81008 81019 81022 81023 81025 All Pueblo 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.