Cheyenne, Wyoming planting calendar and frost dates
Cheyenne is in USDA hardiness zone 5b. The last spring frost typically comes around May 12 and the first fall frost around October 1, giving about 141 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 5b
- Typical last frost
- May 12
- Typical first frost
- October 1
- Frost-free season
- 141 days
Frost dates in Cheyenne
Last spring frost
- May 1Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- May 12Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 26Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- September 18Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 1Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- October 14Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 141 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 2 and returns around October 11.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Cheyenne, 1.1 miles NE 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 Cheyenne
January
Start indoors: onions
February
Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
March
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, celery, cilantro, eggplants, ginger, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
May
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme
June
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, okra, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, tall fescue, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, daylilies, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
August
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, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, saffron, tulips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Cheyenne
All 3 of Cheyenne's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Cheyenne, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 5b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Cheyenne
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Apr 11 to 25 | Jun 6 to 20 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 17 to 31 | May 5 to 19 | Jul 2 to Aug 6 |
| Cilantro | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | May 12 to 19 | — |
| Basil | Apr 18 to May 2 | Jun 6 to 13 | — |
| Potatoes | — | May 11 to 18 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Oct 1 to 15 |
| Onions | Jan 20 to Mar 3 | Apr 14 to 28 | — |
| Cucumbers | May 9 to 23 | Jun 6 to 20 | — |
| Pumpkins | May 9 to 23 | Jun 6 to 20 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 21 to Apr 18 | Jun 6 to 20 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 21 to May 12 | Jul 9 to 30 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 22 to 29 | — |
| Watermelons | May 2 to 16 | Jun 6 to 20 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Green Beans | — | Jun 6 to 20 | — |
| Zucchini | May 9 to 23 | Jun 6 to 20 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 24 to Mar 17 | Apr 14 to 28 | Jul 16 to Aug 13 |
| Peas | — | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Jul 9 to 23 |
| Spinach | Mar 31 to Apr 7 | May 5 to 19 | Jul 23 to Aug 27 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 12 to Jun 2 | — |
| Zinnias | Jun 14 to 21 | Jul 12 to 26 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Aug 20 to Oct 15 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Aug 20 to Oct 1 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Aug 20 to Sep 3 |
Nearby cities
- Fort Collins, CO zone 5b, last frost May 2
- Greeley, CO zone 5b, last frost May 2
- Loveland, CO zone 5b, last frost May 21
- Longmont, CO zone 5b, last frost May 6
- Boulder, CO zone 6a, last frost May 6
- Broomfield, CO zone 6a, last frost May 2
Planting in WyomingAbout zone 5bPrintable calendar for Cheyenne
Questions
When is the last frost in Cheyenne?
Around May 12 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Cheyenne. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 26.
What planting zone is Cheyenne 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 Cheyenne?
Start seeds indoors April 11 to 25 and set plants out June 6 to 20.
When is the first frost in Cheyenne?
Around October 1 in a typical year, and before September 18 about 1 year in 10.