Frost dates for ZIP 81334 (Towaoc, 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, Mesa Verde Np, CO (8 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 1450% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)156 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7a0 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
47°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 50°F, as of Oct 17, 9:00 PM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Cortez 8 SE, 10 mi away. Daily averages: Wed 47°, Thu 48°, Fri 48°.
4-inch depth
48°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 50°F, as of Oct 17, 9:00 PM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Cortez 8 SE, 10 mi away. Daily averages: Wed 49°, Thu 48°, Fri 49°.
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 81334 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 48°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 24 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 9 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 27 |
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) | Oct 1 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 14 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 26 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 21 | Oct 4 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 9 | Oct 14 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 27 | Oct 24 |
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 81334
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 9) and first fall frost (Oct 14). 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 14–28 | May 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 28–Mar 14 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 28–Mar 14 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 14–28 | May 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 14–28 | Apr 18–May 9 (transplant) Apr 11–May 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 9 (transplant) Aug 5–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 28–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 14–28 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 22–Aug 19 (transplant) Jul 8–Aug 5 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 14–28 | Apr 11–May 9 (transplant) Apr 11–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 22–Aug 19 (transplant) Jul 8–Aug 5 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 8–Aug 5 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 8–Aug 5 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) | Jul 8–Aug 5 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 14–28 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | Jun 24–Jul 15 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 14–28 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 11–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 11–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 28–Apr 11 | Apr 25–May 16 (transplant) Apr 25–May 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 11–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 18–May 16 (sow outdoors) | Jul 22–Aug 5 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 4–May 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 11–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 18–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 14–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 22–Aug 5 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 14–28 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 28–Apr 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 14–28 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 2–30 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Sep 2–30 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | Jun 24–Jul 8 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 30–Jun 13 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 30–Jun 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 11–18 | May 16–30 (transplant) May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 11–18 | May 16–30 (transplant) May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 11–18 | May 16–30 (transplant) May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 11–18 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 11–18 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 28–Apr 11 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 14–28 | May 16–23 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 28–Apr 11 | May 16–30 (transplant) May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 25–May 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) Apr 18–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 5–Sep 2 (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 9 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Mesa Verde Np, CO (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00055531), elevation 7,142 ft, 7.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cortez 8 SE, CO | 10 mi | May 6 | Oct 14 |
| Cortez Montezuma Co AP, CO | 11 mi | May 27 | Sep 28 |
| Cortez, CO | 14 mi | May 12 | Oct 7 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 21 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 81334
When is the last frost in 81334?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 81334 is May 9. For a more cautious planting date, use May 27, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 81334?
The average first fall freeze is October 14. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 1.
What hardiness zone is 81334?
ZIP 81334 is in USDA zone 7a (0 to 5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 81334 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
81330 81321 Cortez 81328 Mancos 81327 Lewis 87421 Waterflow 81331 87420 Shiprock 81326 Marvel
Other ZIP codes in Montezuma County
81321 81327 81328 81330 81331 81335 All Montezuma County frost dates · Colorado frost dates
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