Fall in zone 5bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 81143 (Moffat, 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, Crestone 2 SE, CO (15 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 2650% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 2650% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)120 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone5b-15 to -10°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 81143, 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
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 81143 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 14 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 26 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 9 |
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 14 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 26 |
| 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 26 | Sep 26 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 13 | Oct 5 |
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 81143
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 26) and first fall frost (Sep 26). 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 31–Apr 14 | Jun 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 17–31 | Jun 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 17–31 | Jun 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 31–Apr 14 | Jun 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 31–Apr 14 | May 5–26 (transplant) Apr 28–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–22 (transplant) Jul 18–Aug 15 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 14–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–22 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 31–Apr 14 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Jul 4–Aug 1 (transplant) Jun 20–Jul 18 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 31–Apr 14 | Apr 28–May 26 (transplant) Apr 28–May 26 (sow outdoors) | Jul 4–Aug 1 (transplant) Jun 20–Jul 18 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 17–31 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | Jun 20–Jul 18 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 17–31 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | Jun 20–Jul 18 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 17–31 | May 12–26 (transplant) | Jun 20–Jul 18 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 3–17 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | Jun 6–27 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 31–Apr 14 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–15 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 28–May 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–29 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 28–May 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–15 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 14–28 | May 12–Jun 2 (transplant) May 12–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 28–May 26 (sow outdoors) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 5–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 4–18 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 21–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 28–May 19 (sow outdoors) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 31–Apr 28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 4–18 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 3–17 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 14–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 3–17 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 15–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 15–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | Jun 6–20 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 16–Jul 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 28–May 5 | Jun 2–16 (transplant) Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 28–May 5 | Jun 2–16 (transplant) Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 28–May 5 | Jun 2–16 (transplant) Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 28–May 5 | Jun 9–23 (transplant) Jun 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 28–May 5 | Jun 9–23 (transplant) Jun 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 14–28 | Jun 9–23 (transplant) Jun 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 3–17 | Jun 2–9 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 14–28 | Jun 2–16 (transplant) Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 12–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–15 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 17–31 | May 12–26 (transplant) May 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–15 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 15 (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 26 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Crestone 2 SE, CO (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00051964), elevation 8,004 ft, 15.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saguache, CO | 17 mi | May 16 | Sep 28 |
| Westcliffe, CO | 21 mi | Jun 11 | Sep 9 |
| Salida, CO | 27 mi | May 29 | Sep 20 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 26 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 81143
When is the last frost in 81143?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 81143 is May 26. For a more cautious planting date, use June 9, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 81143?
The average first fall freeze is September 26. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 14.
What hardiness zone is 81143?
ZIP 81143 is in USDA zone 5b (-15 to -10°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 81143 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
81222 Coaldale 81155 Bonanza 81232 81223 Cotopaxi 81131 Crestone 81233 Howard 81252 Silver Cliff 81242 Poncha Springs
Other ZIP codes in Saguache County
81125 81131 81149 81155 81248 All Saguache 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.