Fall in zone 6bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 81431 (Redvale, 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, Norwood, CO (12 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 2550% 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)128 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6b-5 to 0°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 81431, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
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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
48°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 47°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of West Summit (35 mi), Harms Way (41 mi), Eastland (44 mi).
4-inch depth
50°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 50°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of West Summit (35 mi), Harms Way (41 mi), Eastland (44 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 81431 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 50°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) | May 7 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 25 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 13 |
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 14 |
| 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 6 | Sep 24 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 25 | Oct 1 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 11 | Oct 8 |
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 81431
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 25) 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 30–Apr 13 | Jun 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 16–30 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 16–30 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 30–Apr 13 | Jun 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 30–Apr 13 | May 4–25 (transplant) Apr 27–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–27 (transplant) Jul 23–Aug 20 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 13–May 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–27 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 30–Apr 13 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) Apr 27–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 23 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 30–Apr 13 | Apr 27–May 25 (transplant) Apr 27–May 25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 23 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 16–30 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 16–30 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 16–30 | May 11–25 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 2–16 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | Jun 11–Jul 2 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 30–Apr 13 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) Apr 27–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 27–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 27–May 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 27–May 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 13–27 | May 11–Jun 1 (transplant) May 11–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 27–May 25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 4–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–23 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 20–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 27–May 18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 30–Apr 27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–23 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 2–16 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 13–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 2–16 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | Jun 11–25 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 15–Jul 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 27–May 4 | Jun 1–15 (transplant) Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 27–May 4 | Jun 1–15 (transplant) Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 27–May 4 | Jun 1–15 (transplant) Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 27–May 4 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 27–May 4 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 13–27 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 2–16 | Jun 1–8 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 13–27 | Jun 1–15 (transplant) Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 11–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 16–30 | May 11–25 (transplant) May 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 25–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 25–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 27–May 11 (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 25 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Norwood, CO (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00056012), elevation 7,020 ft, 12.4 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norwood #2, CO | 12 mi | May 21 | Oct 1 |
| Uravan, CO | 20 mi | Apr 26 | Oct 18 |
| Placerville, CO | 27 mi | May 26 | Sep 29 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 31 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 81431
When is the last frost in 81431?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 81431 is May 25. For a more cautious planting date, use June 13, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 81431?
The average first fall freeze is October 1. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 14.
What hardiness zone is 81431?
ZIP 81431 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 81431 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
81423 Norwood 81424 Nucla 81422 Naturita 81325 81430 Placerville 81429 81411 81425 Olathe
Other ZIP codes in San Miguel County
81423 81426 81430 81435 All San Miguel 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.