Fall in zone 6aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 81650 (Rifle, 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, Altenbern, CO (22 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 2550% 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)120 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6a-10 to -5°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 81650, 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
48°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 47°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Dinosaur 2 E (57 mi).
4-inch depth
48°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 50°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Dinosaur 2 E (57 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 81650 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 48°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) | May 10 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 25 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 13 |
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 10 |
| 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 8 | Sep 15 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 25 | Sep 25 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 8 | 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 81650
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 25) 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 | Mar 30–Apr 13 | Jun 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 16–30 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 16–30 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 30–Apr 13 | Jun 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 30–Apr 13 | May 4–25 (transplant) Apr 27–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 21 (transplant) Jul 17–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 13–May 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 21 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 30–Apr 13 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) Apr 27–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 3–31 (transplant) Jun 19–Jul 17 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 30–Apr 13 | Apr 27–May 25 (transplant) Apr 27–May 25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 3–31 (transplant) Jun 19–Jul 17 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 16–30 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | Jun 19–Jul 17 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 16–30 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | Jun 19–Jul 17 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 16–30 | May 11–25 (transplant) | Jun 19–Jul 17 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 2–16 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | Jun 5–26 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 30–Apr 13 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) Apr 27–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–31 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 27–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 27–May 25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 28 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 27–May 18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 13–27 | May 11–Jun 1 (transplant) May 11–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–31 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 27–May 25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–31 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 4–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | Jul 3–17 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 20–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 27–May 18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–31 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 30–Apr 27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 3–17 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 2–16 | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 13–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–31 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 2–16 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 14–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | Jun 5–19 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 15–Jul 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 27–May 4 | Jun 1–15 (transplant) Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 27–May 4 | Jun 1–15 (transplant) Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 27–May 4 | Jun 1–15 (transplant) Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 27–May 4 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 27–May 4 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 13–27 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 2–16 | Jun 1–8 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 13–27 | Jun 1–15 (transplant) Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 11–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 16–30 | May 11–25 (transplant) May 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 25–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 25–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 27–May 11 (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 25 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Altenbern, CO (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00050214), elevation 5,637 ft, 22.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meeker, CO | 23 mi | Jun 4 | Sep 16 |
| Meeker AP, CO | 24 mi | May 30 | Sep 22 |
| Rifle 3ENE, CO | 25 mi | May 23 | Sep 25 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 12 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 81650
When is the last frost in 81650?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 81650 is May 25. For a more cautious planting date, use June 13, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 81650?
The average first fall freeze is September 25. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 10.
What hardiness zone is 81650?
ZIP 81650 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 81650 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
81635 Battlement Mesa 81641 Meeker 81652 Silt 81630 De Beque 81647 New Castle 81648 Rangely 81601 Glenwood Springs 81643
Other ZIP codes in Rio Blanco County
81641 81648 All Rio Blanco County frost dates · Colorado frost dates
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