Pueblo, Colorado planting calendar and frost dates
Pueblo is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. The last spring frost typically comes around April 30 and the first fall frost around October 9, giving about 161 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 6a
- Typical last frost
- April 30
- Typical first frost
- October 9
- Frost-free season
- 161 days
Frost dates in Pueblo
Last spring frost
- April 18Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 30Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 12Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- September 27Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 9Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- October 21Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 161 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 19 and returns around October 18.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Pueblo Mem Airport, 6.5 miles ENE of the city center. 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 Pueblo
January
Start indoors: onions
February
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: basil, 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
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, 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, garden mums, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peas, perennial ryegrass, petunias, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips, wildflowers
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, celery, chives, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, 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, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
September
Plant for fall: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Pueblo
All 6 of Pueblo's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Pueblo Mem Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 6a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81001 | 6a | Pueblo Mem Airport, 6.5 mi ENE | Apr 30 | Oct 9 |
| 81003 | 6a | Pueblo Mem Airport, 6.5 mi ENE | Apr 30 | Oct 9 |
| 81004 | 6a | Pueblo Mem Airport, 6.5 mi ENE | Apr 30 | Oct 9 |
| 81005 | 6a | Pueblo Mem Airport, 6.5 mi ENE | Apr 30 | Oct 9 |
| 81006 | 6a | Pueblo Mem Airport, 6.5 mi ENE | Apr 30 | Oct 9 |
| 81008 | 6a | Pueblo Mem Airport, 6.5 mi ENE | Apr 30 | Oct 9 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Pueblo
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | May 13 to 27 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 5 to 19 | Apr 23 to May 7 | Jul 10 to Aug 14 |
| Cilantro | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Apr 30 to May 7 | — |
| Basil | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | May 13 to 20 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 11 to 18 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Oct 9 to 23 |
| Onions | Jan 8 to Feb 19 | Apr 2 to 16 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 15 to 29 | May 13 to 27 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 16 to 30 | May 14 to 28 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 25 to Mar 25 | May 13 to 27 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 9 to 30 | Jul 17 to Aug 7 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 26 to Jun 2 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 8 to 22 | May 13 to 27 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 30 to May 14 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 13 to 27 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 15 to 29 | May 13 to 27 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 12 to Mar 5 | Apr 2 to 16 | Jul 24 to Aug 21 |
| Peas | — | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Jul 17 to 31 |
| Spinach | Mar 19 to 26 | Apr 23 to May 7 | Jul 31 to Sep 4 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 30 to May 21 | — |
| Zinnias | May 13 to 20 | Jun 10 to 24 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Aug 28 to Oct 23 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Aug 28 to Oct 9 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Aug 28 to Sep 11 |
Nearby cities
- Colorado Springs, CO zone 6a, last frost May 3
- Castle Rock, CO zone 5b, last frost May 16
- 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 Pueblo
Questions
When is the last frost in Pueblo?
Around April 30 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Pueblo Mem Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 12.
What planting zone is Pueblo in?
USDA hardiness zone 6a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Pueblo?
Start seeds indoors March 18 to April 1 and set plants out May 13 to 27.
When is the first frost in Pueblo?
Around October 9 in a typical year, and before September 27 about 1 year in 10.