Frost dates for ZIP 81335 (Montezuma County, 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, Yellow Jacket 2W, CO (2 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 1750% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)145 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6b-5 to 0°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
50°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 53°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Cortez 8 SE (23 mi), Eastland (30 mi), Mccracken Mesa (35 mi).
4-inch depth
51°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 54°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Cortez 8 SE (23 mi), Eastland (30 mi), Mccracken Mesa (35 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 81335 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 51°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 29 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 17 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 4 |
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 9 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 24 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 30 | Sep 30 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 17 | Oct 9 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 30 | Oct 19 |
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 81335
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 17) and first fall frost (Oct 9). 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 22–Apr 5 | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 8–22 | May 31–Jun 14 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 8–22 | May 31–Jun 14 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 22–Apr 5 | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 22–Apr 5 | Apr 26–May 17 (transplant) Apr 19–May 31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–Sep 4 (transplant) Jul 31–Aug 28 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 22–Apr 5 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–Aug 14 (transplant) Jul 3–31 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 22–Apr 5 | Apr 19–May 17 (transplant) Apr 19–May 17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–Aug 14 (transplant) Jul 3–31 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 8–22 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | Jul 3–31 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 8–22 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | Jul 3–31 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 8–22 | May 3–17 (transplant) | Jul 3–31 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | Jun 19–Jul 10 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 22–Apr 5 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 19–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 19–May 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 19–May 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 5–19 | May 3–24 (transplant) May 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 19–May 17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 26–May 24 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–31 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 12–May 24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 19–May 10 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 26–May 17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 22–Apr 19 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–31 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 5–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 22–Mar 8 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 28–Sep 25 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 28–Sep 25 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | Jun 19–Jul 3 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 31–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 19–26 | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 19–26 | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 19–26 | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 19–26 | May 31–Jun 14 (transplant) May 31–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 19–26 | May 31–Jun 14 (transplant) May 31–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 5–19 | May 31–Jun 14 (transplant) May 31–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 22–Mar 8 | May 24–31 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 5–19 | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 8–22 | May 3–17 (transplant) Apr 26–May 17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 28 (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 17 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Yellow Jacket 2W, CO (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00059275), elevation 6,933 ft, 2.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Jacket 4NE, CO | 3 mi | May 15 | Oct 8 |
| Cortez, CO | 15 mi | May 12 | Oct 7 |
| Cortez Montezuma Co AP, CO | 17 mi | May 27 | Sep 28 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 15 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 81335
When is the last frost in 81335?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 81335 is May 17. For a more cautious planting date, use June 4, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 81335?
The average first fall freeze is October 9. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 24.
What hardiness zone is 81335?
ZIP 81335 is in USDA zone 6b (-5 to 0°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 81335 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
81327 Lewis 81320 81331 81321 Cortez 81324 Dove Creek 81330 81325 81334 Towaoc
Other ZIP codes in Montezuma County
81321 81327 81328 81330 81331 81334 All Montezuma County frost dates · Colorado frost dates
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