Colorado Springs, Colorado planting calendar and frost dates
Colorado Springs is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around May 3 and the first fall frost around October 8, giving about 158 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- May 3
- Typical first frost
- October 8
- Frost-free season
- 158 days
Frost dates in Colorado Springs
Last spring frost
- April 22Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- May 3Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 15Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- September 26Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 8Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- October 19Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 158 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 24 and returns around October 16.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Colorado Springs Muni Airport, 7.3 miles ESE of the city center and 172 feet higher. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Colorado Springs
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, 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
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: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, saffron, spinach, tulips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Colorado Springs
All 14 of Colorado Springs's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Colorado Springs Muni Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 5b in 80831, 80919, 80920, 80921, and 6a in 80904, 80906, 80907, 80909, 80910, 80916, 80918, 80923, 80925, 80929.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80831 | 5b | Colorado Springs Muni Airport, 7.3 mi ESE | May 3 | Oct 8 |
| 80904 | 6a | Colorado Springs Muni Airport, 7.3 mi ESE | May 3 | Oct 8 |
| 80906 | 6a | Colorado Springs Muni Airport, 7.3 mi ESE | May 3 | Oct 8 |
| 80907 | 6a | Colorado Springs Muni Airport, 7.3 mi ESE | May 3 | Oct 8 |
| 80909 | 6a | Colorado Springs Muni Airport, 7.3 mi ESE | May 3 | Oct 8 |
| 80910 | 6a | Colorado Springs Muni Airport, 7.3 mi ESE | May 3 | Oct 8 |
| 80916 | 6a | Colorado Springs Muni Airport, 7.3 mi ESE | May 3 | Oct 8 |
| 80918 | 6a | Colorado Springs Muni Airport, 7.3 mi ESE | May 3 | Oct 8 |
| 80919 | 5b | Colorado Springs Muni Airport, 7.3 mi ESE | May 3 | Oct 8 |
| 80920 | 5b | Colorado Springs Muni Airport, 7.3 mi ESE | May 3 | Oct 8 |
| 80921 | 5b | Colorado Springs Muni Airport, 7.3 mi ESE | May 3 | Oct 8 |
| 80923 | 6a | Colorado Springs Muni Airport, 7.3 mi ESE | May 3 | Oct 8 |
| 80925 | 6a | Colorado Springs Muni Airport, 7.3 mi ESE | May 3 | Oct 8 |
| 80929 | 6a | Colorado Springs Muni Airport, 7.3 mi ESE | May 3 | Oct 8 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Colorado Springs
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 8 to 22 | Apr 26 to May 10 | Jul 9 to Aug 13 |
| Cilantro | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | May 3 to 10 | — |
| Basil | Apr 5 to 19 | May 24 to 31 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 27 to May 4 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Oct 8 to 22 |
| Onions | Jan 11 to Feb 22 | Apr 5 to 19 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 26 to May 10 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 26 to May 10 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 8 to Apr 5 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 12 to May 3 | Jul 16 to Aug 6 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 8 to 15 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 19 to May 3 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | May 3 to 17 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 26 to May 10 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 15 to Mar 8 | Apr 5 to 19 | Jul 23 to Aug 20 |
| Peas | — | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Jul 16 to 30 |
| Spinach | Mar 22 to 29 | Apr 26 to May 10 | Jul 30 to Sep 3 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 3 to 24 | — |
| Zinnias | May 30 to Jun 6 | Jun 27 to Jul 11 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Aug 27 to Oct 22 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Aug 27 to Oct 8 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Aug 27 to Sep 10 |
Nearby cities
- Castle Rock, CO zone 5b, last frost May 16
- Pueblo, CO zone 6a, last frost Apr 30
- Parker, CO zone 5b, last frost May 9
- Centennial, CO zone 6a, last frost May 5
- Aurora, CO zone 6a, last frost May 4
- Lakewood, CO zone 6a, last frost May 5
Planting in ColoradoAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Colorado Springs
Questions
When is the last frost in Colorado Springs?
Around May 3 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Colorado Springs Muni Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 15.
What planting zone is Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs?
Start seeds indoors March 29 to April 12 and set plants out May 24 to June 7.
When is the first frost in Colorado Springs?
Around October 8 in a typical year, and before September 26 about 1 year in 10.