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Broomfield, Colorado planting calendar and frost dates

Broomfield is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around May 2 and the first fall frost around October 11, giving about 160 frost-free days a year.

Hardiness zone
Zone 6a (parts in 5b)
Typical last frost
May 2
Typical first frost
October 11
Frost-free season
160 days

Frost dates in Broomfield

Last spring frost

  • April 18Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
  • May 2Typical: a later frost in half of years
  • May 14Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

First fall frost

  • September 26Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
  • October 11Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
  • October 24Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10

The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 160 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 20 and returns around October 21.

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Northglenn, 3.1 miles NW of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Broomfield shares this station with Thornton, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.

What to plant each month in Broomfield

  1. January

    Start indoors: onions

  2. February

    Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons

  3. March

    Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, 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

  4. 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

  5. May

    Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, 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, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

  6. June

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini

  7. July

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass

    Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, swiss chard

  8. August

    Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peas, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tulips, turnips

  9. September

    Plant for fall: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, saffron, spinach, tulips

  10. October

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips

Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Broomfield

All 4 of Broomfield's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Northglenn, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 5b in 80516, and 6a in 80020, 80021, 80023.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
800206aNorthglenn, 3.1 mi NWMay 2Oct 11
800216aNorthglenn, 3.1 mi NWMay 2Oct 11
800236aNorthglenn, 3.1 mi NWMay 2Oct 11
805165bNorthglenn, 10.7 mi SMay 2Oct 11

Northglenn also supplies the frost dates for Thornton and Westminster, so their planting calendars match Broomfield's.

Planting dates for popular crops in Broomfield

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesMar 26 to Apr 9May 21 to Jun 4—
Strawberries—Mar 21 to Apr 4—
LettuceMar 7 to 21Apr 25 to May 9Jul 12 to Aug 16
CilantroMar 21 to Apr 4May 2 to 9—
BasilApr 2 to 16May 21 to 28—
Potatoes—Apr 20 to 27—
Garlic—Mar 21 to Apr 4Oct 11 to 25
OnionsJan 10 to Feb 21Apr 4 to 18—
CucumbersApr 23 to May 7May 21 to Jun 4—
PumpkinsApr 23 to May 7May 21 to Jun 4—
PeppersMar 5 to Apr 2May 21 to Jun 4—
Carrots—Apr 11 to May 2Jul 19 to Aug 9
Sweet Potatoes—Jun 3 to 10—
WatermelonsApr 16 to 30May 21 to Jun 4—
Sweet Corn—May 2 to 16—
Green Beans—May 21 to Jun 4—
ZucchiniApr 23 to May 7May 21 to Jun 4—
BroccoliFeb 14 to Mar 7Apr 4 to 18Jul 26 to Aug 23
Peas—Mar 21 to Apr 4Jul 19 to Aug 2
SpinachMar 21 to 28Apr 25 to May 9Aug 2 to Sep 6
Sunflowers—May 2 to 23—
ZinniasMay 20 to 27Jun 17 to Jul 1—
Tulips——Aug 30 to Oct 25
Daffodils——Aug 30 to Oct 11
Grass Seed—Mar 21 to Apr 4Aug 30 to Sep 13

Nearby cities

Planting in ColoradoAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Broomfield

Questions

When is the last frost in Broomfield?

Around May 2 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Northglenn. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 14.

What planting zone is Broomfield 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 Broomfield?

Start seeds indoors March 26 to April 9 and set plants out May 21 to June 4.

When is the first frost in Broomfield?

Around October 11 in a typical year, and before September 26 about 1 year in 10.