Fall in zone 5bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 81435 (Mountain Village, 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, Placerville, CO (12 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 2650% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 2950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)125 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone5b-15 to -10°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
47°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 46°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Montrose 11 ENE (48 mi), Cortez 8 SE (53 mi).
4-inch depth
48°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 48°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Montrose 11 ENE (48 mi), Cortez 8 SE (53 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 81435 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 48°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 14 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 26 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 6 |
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 17 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 29 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 10 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jun 4 | Sep 20 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 26 | Sep 29 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 13 | Oct 6 |
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 81435
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 26) and first fall frost (Sep 29). 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 31–Apr 14 | Jun 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 17–31 | Jun 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 17–31 | Jun 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 31–Apr 14 | Jun 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 31–Apr 14 | May 5–26 (transplant) Apr 28–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–25 (transplant) Jul 21–Aug 18 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 14–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–25 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 31–Apr 14 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Jul 7–Aug 4 (transplant) Jun 23–Jul 21 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 31–Apr 14 | Apr 28–May 26 (transplant) Apr 28–May 26 (sow outdoors) | Jul 7–Aug 4 (transplant) Jun 23–Jul 21 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 17–31 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | Jun 23–Jul 21 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 17–31 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | Jun 23–Jul 21 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 17–31 | May 12–26 (transplant) | Jun 23–Jul 21 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 3–17 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | Jun 9–30 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 31–Apr 14 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 28–May 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 28–May 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 14–28 | May 12–Jun 2 (transplant) May 12–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 28–May 26 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 5–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 7–21 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 21–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 28–May 19 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 31–Apr 28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 7–21 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 3–17 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 14–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 3–17 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 18–Sep 15 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 18–Sep 15 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | Jun 9–23 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 16–Jul 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 28–May 5 | Jun 2–16 (transplant) Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 28–May 5 | Jun 2–16 (transplant) Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 28–May 5 | Jun 2–16 (transplant) Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 28–May 5 | Jun 9–23 (transplant) Jun 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 28–May 5 | Jun 9–23 (transplant) Jun 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 14–28 | Jun 9–23 (transplant) Jun 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 3–17 | Jun 2–9 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 14–28 | Jun 2–16 (transplant) Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 12–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 17–31 | May 12–26 (transplant) May 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 18 (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 26 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Placerville, CO (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00056520), elevation 7,383 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%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ouray, CO | 17 mi | May 17 | Oct 1 |
| Ouray #2, CO | 18 mi | May 18 | Oct 4 |
| Ridgway, CO | 21 mi | Jun 11 | Sep 13 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 25 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 81435
When is the last frost in 81435?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 81435 is May 26. For a more cautious planting date, use June 6, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 81435?
The average first fall freeze is September 29. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 17.
What hardiness zone is 81435?
ZIP 81435 is in USDA zone 5b (-15 to -10°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 81435 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
81426 Ophir 81332 Rico 81430 Placerville 81323 Dolores 81427 Ouray 81432 Loghill Village 81433 Silverton 81301 Durango
Other ZIP codes in San Miguel County
81423 81426 81430 81431 All San Miguel County frost dates · Colorado frost dates
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