Fall in zone 6aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 81040 (Gardner, CO)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Sheep Mtn, CO (5 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 2750% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 2550% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)119 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6a-10 to -5°F avg. coldest night
Get The Dial for 81040 (Gardner)
Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 81040, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.
This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 81040 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring mid-April to mid-May.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Mountain West and High Plains. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | May 12 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 27 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 10 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Sep 11 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 25 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 8 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jun 7 | Sep 17 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 27 | Sep 25 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 13 | Oct 4 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 81040
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 27) and first fall frost (Sep 25). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 1–15 | Jun 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 18–Apr 1 | Jun 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 18–Apr 1 | Jun 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Apr 1–15 | Jun 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Apr 1–15 | May 6–27 (transplant) Apr 29–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 21 (transplant) Jul 17–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 15–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 21 (sowing) |
| Kale | Apr 1–15 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Jul 3–31 (transplant) Jun 19–Jul 17 (sowing) |
| Collards | Apr 1–15 | Apr 29–May 27 (transplant) Apr 29–May 27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 3–31 (transplant) Jun 19–Jul 17 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 18–Apr 1 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | Jun 19–Jul 17 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 18–Apr 1 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | Jun 19–Jul 17 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 18–Apr 1 | May 13–27 (transplant) | Jun 19–Jul 17 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 4–18 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | Jun 5–26 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 1–15 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–31 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 29–May 27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 28 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 29–May 20 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 15–29 | May 13–Jun 3 (transplant) May 13–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–31 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 29–May 27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–31 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 6–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | Jul 3–17 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 22–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 29–May 20 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–31 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Apr 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Jul 3–17 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 4–18 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 15–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–31 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 4–18 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 14–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | Jun 5–19 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 17–Jul 1 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 17–Jul 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 29–May 6 | Jun 3–17 (transplant) Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 29–May 6 | Jun 3–17 (transplant) Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 29–May 6 | Jun 3–17 (transplant) Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 29–May 6 | Jun 10–24 (transplant) Jun 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 29–May 6 | Jun 10–24 (transplant) Jun 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 15–29 | Jun 10–24 (transplant) Jun 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 4–18 | Jun 3–10 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 15–29 | Jun 3–17 (transplant) Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 13–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 18–Apr 1 | May 13–27 (transplant) May 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 27–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 27–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | Jul 17–Aug 14 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Plants that do well here
Colorado has a university or garden plant program: Plant Select®. Plant frost-tender annuals after May 27 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Sheep Mtn, CO (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00057572), elevation 7,744 ft, 4.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Sand Dunes Np & Preserve, CO | 16 mi | May 21 | Oct 1 |
| Rye 1SW, CO | 18 mi | May 5 | Oct 10 |
| Walsenburg 1 NW, CO | 26 mi | May 6 | Oct 4 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 22 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 81040
When is the last frost in 81040?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 81040 is May 27. For a more cautious planting date, use June 10, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 81040?
The average first fall freeze is September 25. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 11.
What hardiness zone is 81040?
ZIP 81040 is in USDA zone 6a (-10 to -5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 81040 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
81069 Rye 81133 Fort Garland 81019 Colorado City 81252 Silver Cliff 81131 Crestone 81023 Beulah Valley 81146 81253
Other ZIP codes in Huerfano County
81055 81069 81089 All Huerfano County frost dates · Colorado frost dates
Never miss a frost: get The Dial
Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.