Fall in zone 5aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 81224 (Crested Butte, 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, Taylor Park, CO (18 miles away).
- Average last spring frostJun 2050% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)80 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone5a-20 to -15°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 81224, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
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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
46°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 45°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Montrose 11 ENE (47 mi).
4-inch depth
47°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 48°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Montrose 11 ENE (47 mi).
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 81224 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 47°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent window is mostly past. Next: spring, when soil reaches 50°F (typically 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) | Jun 7 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jun 20 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jul 2 |
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) | Aug 25 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 8 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Sep 19 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | n/a | n/a |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jun 20 | Sep 8 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jun 2 | Sep 22 |
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 81224
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jun 20) and first fall frost (Sep 8). 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 25–May 9 | Jun 27–Jul 11 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Apr 11–25 | Jul 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Apr 11–25 | Jul 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Apr 25–May 9 | Jun 27–Jul 11 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Apr 25–May 9 | May 30–Jun 20 (transplant) May 23–Jul 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 14–Aug 4 (transplant) |
| Spinach | – | May 9–30 (sow outdoors) | Jul 14–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Kale | Apr 25–May 9 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | Jun 16–Jul 14 (transplant) |
| Collards | Apr 25–May 9 | May 23–Jun 20 (transplant) May 23–Jun 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Broccoli | Apr 11–25 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) | – |
| Cabbage | Apr 11–25 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) | – |
| Cauliflower | Apr 11–25 | Jun 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 28–Apr 11 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) | – |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 25–May 9 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | Jun 30–Jul 14 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | Jul 14–28 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | May 23–Jun 20 (sow outdoors) | Jul 14–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | May 23–Jun 13 (sow outdoors) | Jul 14–28 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | May 9–23 | Jun 6–27 (transplant) Jun 6–Jul 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Beet | – | May 23–Jun 20 (sow outdoors) | Jun 30–Jul 14 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 30–Jun 27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Radish | – | May 16–Jun 27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | May 23–Jun 13 (sow outdoors) | Jun 30–Jul 14 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 30–Jun 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Apr 25–May 23 (sow outdoors) | Jun 16–30 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 28–Apr 11 | May 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | May 9–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | Jun 30–Jul 14 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 28–Apr 11 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Jul 28–Aug 25 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | May 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 28–Aug 25 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet potato | – | Jul 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 27–Jul 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 27–Jul 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 27–Jul 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jul 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jul 11–Aug 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | May 23–30 | Jun 27–Jul 11 (transplant) Jun 27–Jul 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | May 23–30 | Jun 27–Jul 11 (transplant) Jun 27–Jul 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | May 23–30 | Jun 27–Jul 11 (transplant) Jun 27–Jul 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 27–Jul 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | May 23–30 | Jul 4–18 (transplant) Jul 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | May 23–30 | Jul 4–18 (transplant) Jul 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | May 9–23 | Jul 4–18 (transplant) Jul 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 28–Apr 11 | Jun 27–Jul 4 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | May 9–23 | Jun 27–Jul 11 (transplant) Jun 27–Jul 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jun 6–Jul 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 14–28 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Apr 11–25 | Jun 6–20 (transplant) May 30–Jun 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jun 20–Jul 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 14–28 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jun 20–Jul 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) | Jun 30–Jul 28 (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 June 20 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Taylor Park, CO (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00058184), elevation 9,179 ft, 18.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aspen 1SW, CO | 22 mi | Jun 2 | Sep 23 |
| Aspen Pitkin Co AP, CO | 24 mi | May 31 | Sep 23 |
| Blue Mesa Lake, CO | 31 mi | Jun 9 | Sep 16 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 20 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 81224
When is the last frost in 81224?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 81224 is June 20. For a more cautious planting date, use July 2, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 81224?
The average first fall freeze is September 8. In 1 year in 10 it comes by August 25.
What hardiness zone is 81224?
ZIP 81224 is in USDA zone 5a (-20 to -15°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 81224 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
81225 Mount Crested Butte 81612 81210 81615 Snowmass Village 81654 81611 Aspen 81237 81434 Somerset
Other ZIP codes in Gunnison County
81210 81220 81225 81230 81237 81239 81241 81243 81434 All Gunnison County frost dates · Colorado frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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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.