Fall in zone 6aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 81328 (Mancos, 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, Mancos 1SW, CO (4 miles away).
- Average last spring frostJun 450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 2450% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)111 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6a-10 to -5°F avg. coldest night
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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
47°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 46°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Cortez 8 SE, 9 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 48°, Fri 48°, Sat 47°.
4-inch depth
48°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 49°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Cortez 8 SE, 9 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 48°, Fri 49°, Sat 48°.
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 81328 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 48°F at 4 inches. 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) | May 20 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jun 4 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 19 |
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 9 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 24 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 4 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jun 15 | Sep 15 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jun 4 | Sep 24 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 21 | Oct 2 |
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 81328
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jun 4) and first fall frost (Sep 24). 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 9–23 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 26–Apr 9 | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 26–Apr 9 | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Apr 9–23 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Apr 9–23 | May 14–Jun 4 (transplant) May 7–Jun 18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 20 (transplant) Jul 16–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 23–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 20 (sowing) |
| Kale | Apr 9–23 | May 7–21 (transplant) May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 2–30 (transplant) Jun 18–Jul 16 (sowing) |
| Collards | Apr 9–23 | May 7–Jun 4 (transplant) May 7–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 2–30 (transplant) Jun 18–Jul 16 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 26–Apr 9 | May 7–21 (transplant) | Jun 18–Jul 16 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 26–Apr 9 | May 7–21 (transplant) | Jun 18–Jul 16 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 26–Apr 9 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) | Jun 18–Jul 16 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 12–26 | May 7–21 (transplant) | Jun 4–25 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 9–23 | May 7–21 (transplant) May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | May 7–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 27 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | May 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 23–May 7 | May 21–Jun 11 (transplant) May 21–Jun 18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | May 7–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 14–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 2–16 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 30–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | May 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 14–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Apr 9–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 2–16 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 12–26 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 23–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 12–26 | May 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 13–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | Aug 13–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | May 7–21 (transplant) | Jun 4–18 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 25–Jul 9 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 18–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 25–Jul 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | May 7–14 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | May 7–14 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | May 7–14 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | May 7–14 | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) Jun 18–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | May 7–14 | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) Jun 18–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 23–May 7 | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) Jun 18–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 12–26 | Jun 11–18 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 23–May 7 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 21–Jun 18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 26–Apr 9 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) May 14–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | May 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | May 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | May 7–21 (transplant) | Jul 16–Aug 13 (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 4 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Mancos 1SW, CO (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00055327), elevation 6,897 ft, 4.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cortez 8 SE, CO | 10 mi | May 6 | Oct 14 |
| Mesa Verde Np, CO | 10 mi | May 9 | Oct 14 |
| Cortez, CO | 15 mi | May 12 | Oct 7 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 29 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 81328
When is the last frost in 81328?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 81328 is June 4. For a more cautious planting date, use June 19, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 81328?
The average first fall freeze is September 24. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 9.
What hardiness zone is 81328?
ZIP 81328 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 81328 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
81330 81326 Marvel 81334 Towaoc 81321 Cortez 87418 La Plata 81327 Lewis 81303 81335
Other ZIP codes in Montezuma County
81321 81327 81330 81331 81334 81335 All Montezuma 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.