Frost dates for ZIP 81415 (Crawford, 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, Black Canyon Of The Gunnison, CO (6 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 2350% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)130 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
46°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 50°F, as of Oct 17, 9:00 PM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Montrose 11 ENE, 7 mi away. Daily averages: Wed 47°, Thu 46°, Fri 45°.
4-inch depth
47°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 52°F, as of Oct 17, 9:00 PM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Montrose 11 ENE, 7 mi away. Daily averages: Wed 49°, Thu 47°, Fri 46°.
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 81415 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 47°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 5 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 23 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 9 |
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 20 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 1 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 14 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jun 5 | Sep 24 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 23 | Oct 1 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 7 | Oct 9 |
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 81415
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 23) and first fall frost (Oct 1). 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 28–Apr 11 | May 30–Jun 13 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 14–28 | Jun 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 14–28 | Jun 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 28–Apr 11 | May 30–Jun 13 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 28–Apr 11 | May 2–23 (transplant) Apr 25–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–27 (transplant) Jul 23–Aug 20 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 11–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–27 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 28–Apr 11 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 23 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 28–Apr 11 | Apr 25–May 23 (transplant) Apr 25–May 23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 23 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 14–28 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 14–28 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 14–28 | May 9–23 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) | Jun 11–Jul 2 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 28–Apr 11 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 25–May 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 25–May 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 11–25 | May 9–30 (transplant) May 9–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 25–May 23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–23 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 18–May 30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 25–May 16 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 28–Apr 25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–23 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 11–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) | Jun 11–25 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 30–Jun 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 30–Jun 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 30–Jun 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 13–Jul 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 25–May 2 | May 30–Jun 13 (transplant) May 30–Jun 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 25–May 2 | May 30–Jun 13 (transplant) May 30–Jun 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 25–May 2 | May 30–Jun 13 (transplant) May 30–Jun 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 30–Jun 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 25–May 2 | Jun 6–20 (transplant) Jun 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 25–May 2 | Jun 6–20 (transplant) Jun 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 11–25 | Jun 6–20 (transplant) Jun 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 28–Mar 14 | May 30–Jun 6 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 11–25 | May 30–Jun 13 (transplant) May 30–Jun 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 9–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 14–28 | May 9–23 (transplant) May 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (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 23 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Black Canyon Of The Gunnison, CO (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00050754), elevation 8,151 ft, 5.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montrose 11 ENE, CO | 7 mi | May 20 | Oct 1 |
| Cimarron, CO | 13 mi | Jun 20 | Sep 10 |
| Paonia 1SW, CO | 16 mi | May 3 | Oct 12 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 48 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 81415
When is the last frost in 81415?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 81415 is May 23. For a more cautious planting date, use June 9, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 81415?
The average first fall freeze is October 1. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 20.
What hardiness zone is 81415?
ZIP 81415 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 81415 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
81401 Montrose 81419 Lazear 81410 Orchard City 81428 Paonia 81220 81434 Somerset 81403 Colona 81413 Cedaredge
Other ZIP codes in Montrose County
81401 81403 81411 81422 81424 81425 81429 All Montrose County frost dates · Colorado frost dates
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