Loveland, Colorado planting calendar and frost dates
Loveland is in USDA hardiness zone 5b. The last spring frost typically comes around May 21 and the first fall frost around September 29, giving about 128 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 5b
- Typical last frost
- May 21
- Typical first frost
- September 29
- Frost-free season
- 128 days
Frost dates in Loveland
Last spring frost
- May 9Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- May 21Typical: a later frost in half of years
- June 4Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- September 12Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- September 29Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- October 12Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 128 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 May 11 and returns around October 6.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Buckhorn Mtn 1 E, 5.6 miles NNW of the city center and 308 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 Loveland
January
Start indoors: onions
February
Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
March
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
April
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
May
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips, zinnias
June
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, lettuce, swiss chard
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, daylilies, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
August
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tulips, turnips
September
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, saffron, tulips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Loveland
Loveland's 2 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from May 12 in 80537 to May 21 in 80538. Every one of them is in zone 5b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Loveland
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Apr 19 to May 3 | Jun 14 to 28 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Apr 9 to 23 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | May 14 to 28 | Jun 30 to Aug 4 |
| Cilantro | Apr 9 to 23 | May 21 to 28 | — |
| Basil | Apr 26 to May 10 | Jun 14 to 21 | — |
| Potatoes | — | May 18 to 25 | — |
| Garlic | — | Apr 9 to 23 | Sep 29 to Oct 13 |
| Onions | Jan 29 to Mar 12 | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Cucumbers | May 17 to 31 | Jun 14 to 28 | — |
| Pumpkins | May 17 to 31 | Jun 14 to 28 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 29 to Apr 26 | Jun 14 to 28 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 30 to May 21 | Jul 7 to 28 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 30 to Jul 7 | — |
| Watermelons | May 10 to 24 | Jun 14 to 28 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Green Beans | — | Jun 14 to 28 | — |
| Zucchini | May 17 to 31 | Jun 14 to 28 | — |
| Broccoli | Mar 5 to 26 | Apr 23 to May 7 | Jul 14 to Aug 11 |
| Peas | — | Apr 9 to 23 | Jul 7 to 21 |
| Spinach | Apr 9 to 16 | May 14 to 28 | Jul 21 to Aug 25 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 21 to Jun 11 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 23 to 30 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Aug 18 to Oct 13 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Aug 18 to Sep 29 |
| Grass Seed | — | Apr 9 to 23 | Aug 18 to Sep 1 |
Nearby cities
- Fort Collins, CO zone 5b, last frost May 2
- Greeley, CO zone 5b, last frost May 2
- Longmont, CO zone 5b, last frost May 6
- Boulder, CO zone 6a, last frost May 6
- Broomfield, CO zone 6a, last frost May 2
- Thornton, CO zone 6a, last frost May 2
Planting in ColoradoAbout zone 5bPrintable calendar for Loveland
Questions
When is the last frost in Loveland?
Around May 21 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Buckhorn Mtn 1 E. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after June 4.
What planting zone is Loveland in?
USDA hardiness zone 5b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Loveland?
Start seeds indoors April 19 to May 3 and set plants out June 14 to 28.
When is the first frost in Loveland?
Around September 29 in a typical year, and before September 12 about 1 year in 10.