Westminster, Colorado planting calendar and frost dates
Westminster 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
- Typical last frost
- May 2
- Typical first frost
- October 11
- Frost-free season
- 160 days
Frost dates in Westminster
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. Westminster shares this station with Thornton, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Westminster
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, 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: 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
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
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
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
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 Westminster
Westminster's 7 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from May 2 in 80020 to May 5 in 80005. Every one of them is in zone 6a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80005 | 6a | Wheat Ridge 2, 2.5 mi SW | May 5 | Oct 5 |
| 80020 | 6a | Northglenn, 3.1 mi NW | May 2 | Oct 11 |
| 80021 | 6a | Northglenn, 3.1 mi NW | May 2 | Oct 11 |
| 80023 | 6a | Northglenn, 3.1 mi NW | May 2 | Oct 11 |
| 80030 | 6a | Northglenn, 3.1 mi NW | May 2 | Oct 11 |
| 80031 | 6a | Northglenn, 3.1 mi NW | May 2 | Oct 11 |
| 80234 | 6a | Northglenn, 3.1 mi NW | May 2 | Oct 11 |
Northglenn also supplies the frost dates for Thornton and Broomfield, so their planting calendars match Westminster's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Westminster
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 7 to 21 | Apr 25 to May 9 | Jul 12 to Aug 16 |
| Cilantro | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | May 2 to 9 | — |
| Basil | Apr 2 to 16 | May 21 to 28 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 20 to 27 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Oct 11 to 25 |
| Onions | Jan 10 to Feb 21 | Apr 4 to 18 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 23 to May 7 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 23 to May 7 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 5 to Apr 2 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 11 to May 2 | Jul 19 to Aug 9 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 3 to 10 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 16 to 30 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | May 2 to 16 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 23 to May 7 | May 21 to Jun 4 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 14 to Mar 7 | Apr 4 to 18 | Jul 26 to Aug 23 |
| Peas | — | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Jul 19 to Aug 2 |
| Spinach | Mar 21 to 28 | Apr 25 to May 9 | Aug 2 to Sep 6 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 2 to 23 | — |
| Zinnias | May 20 to 27 | Jun 17 to Jul 1 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Aug 30 to Oct 25 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Aug 30 to Oct 11 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Aug 30 to Sep 13 |
Nearby cities
- Broomfield, CO zone 6a, last frost May 2
- Arvada, CO zone 6a, last frost May 5
- Thornton, CO zone 6a, last frost May 2
- Denver, CO zone 6a, last frost May 4
- Lakewood, CO zone 6a, last frost May 5
- Commerce City, CO zone 6a, last frost May 4
Planting in ColoradoAbout zone 6aPrintable calendar for Westminster
Questions
When is the last frost in Westminster?
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 Westminster 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 Westminster?
Start seeds indoors March 26 to April 9 and set plants out May 21 to June 4.
When is the first frost in Westminster?
Around October 11 in a typical year, and before September 26 about 1 year in 10.