Arvada, Colorado planting calendar and frost dates
Arvada is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around May 5 and the first fall frost around October 5, giving about 151 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- May 5
- Typical first frost
- October 5
- Frost-free season
- 151 days
Frost dates in Arvada
Last spring frost
- April 24Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- May 5Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 18Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- September 20Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 5Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- October 18Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 151 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around April 25 and returns around October 14.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Wheat Ridge 2, 2.5 miles SW of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Arvada shares this station with Lakewood, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Arvada
January
Start indoors: onions
February
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
May
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, green onions, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
August
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tulips, turnips
September
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, saffron, tulips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Arvada
All 6 of Arvada's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Wheat Ridge 2, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 5b in 80403, and 6a in 80002, 80003, 80004, 80005, 80007.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80002 | 6a | Wheat Ridge 2, 2.5 mi SW | May 5 | Oct 5 |
| 80003 | 6a | Wheat Ridge 2, 2.5 mi SW | May 5 | Oct 5 |
| 80004 | 6a | Wheat Ridge 2, 2.5 mi SW | May 5 | Oct 5 |
| 80005 | 6a | Wheat Ridge 2, 2.5 mi SW | May 5 | Oct 5 |
| 80007 | 6a | Wheat Ridge 2, 2.5 mi SW | May 5 | Oct 5 |
| 80403 | 5b | Wheat Ridge 2, 2.5 mi SW | May 5 | Oct 5 |
Wheat Ridge 2 also supplies the frost dates for Lakewood, so their planting calendars match Arvada's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Arvada
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | May 25 to Jun 8 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 10 to 24 | Apr 28 to May 12 | Jul 6 to Aug 10 |
| Cilantro | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | May 5 to 12 | — |
| Basil | Apr 6 to 20 | May 25 to Jun 1 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 28 to May 5 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Oct 5 to 19 |
| Onions | Jan 13 to Feb 24 | Apr 7 to 21 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 27 to May 11 | May 25 to Jun 8 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 27 to May 11 | May 25 to Jun 8 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 9 to Apr 6 | May 25 to Jun 8 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 14 to May 5 | Jul 13 to Aug 3 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 9 to 16 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 20 to May 4 | May 25 to Jun 8 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | May 5 to 19 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 25 to Jun 8 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 27 to May 11 | May 25 to Jun 8 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 17 to Mar 10 | Apr 7 to 21 | Jul 20 to Aug 17 |
| Peas | — | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Jul 13 to 27 |
| Spinach | Mar 24 to 31 | Apr 28 to May 12 | Jul 27 to Aug 31 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 5 to 26 | — |
| Zinnias | May 31 to Jun 7 | Jun 28 to Jul 12 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Aug 24 to Oct 19 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Aug 24 to Oct 5 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Aug 24 to Sep 7 |
Nearby cities
- Westminster, CO zone 6a, last frost May 2
- Lakewood, CO zone 6a, last frost May 5
- Broomfield, CO zone 6a, last frost May 2
- Thornton, CO zone 6a, last frost May 2
- Boulder, CO zone 6a, last frost May 6
- Denver, CO zone 6a, last frost May 4
Planting in ColoradoAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Arvada
Questions
When is the last frost in Arvada?
Around May 5 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Wheat Ridge 2. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 18.
What planting zone is Arvada in?
USDA hardiness zone 6a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 5b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Arvada?
Start seeds indoors March 30 to April 13 and set plants out May 25 to June 8.
When is the first frost in Arvada?
Around October 5 in a typical year, and before September 20 about 1 year in 10.