Fall in zone 5aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 81228 (Chaffee County, 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, Twin Lakes Rsvr, CO (6 miles away).
- Average last spring frostJun 1650% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 1050% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)85 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 81228, 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 81228 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) | Jun 3 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jun 16 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 29 |
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 24 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 10 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Sep 23 |
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 16 | Sep 10 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jun 2 | Sep 23 |
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 81228
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jun 16) and first fall frost (Sep 10). 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 21–May 5 | Jun 23–Jul 7 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Apr 7–21 | Jun 30–Jul 14 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Apr 7–21 | Jun 30–Jul 14 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Apr 21–May 5 | Jun 23–Jul 7 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Apr 21–May 5 | May 26–Jun 16 (transplant) May 19–Jun 30 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–Aug 6 (transplant) Jul 2–30 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | May 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Kale | Apr 21–May 5 | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | Jun 18–Jul 16 (transplant) Jun 4–Jul 2 (sowing) |
| Collards | Apr 21–May 5 | May 19–Jun 16 (transplant) May 19–Jun 16 (sow outdoors) | Jun 18–Jul 16 (transplant) |
| Broccoli | Apr 7–21 | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) | Jun 4–Jul 2 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Apr 7–21 | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) | Jun 4–Jul 2 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Apr 7–21 | Jun 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 24–Apr 7 | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) | – |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 21–May 5 | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 2–16 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | May 19–Jun 16 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | May 19–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | May 5–19 | Jun 2–23 (transplant) Jun 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Jul 2–16 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | May 19–Jun 16 (sow outdoors) | Jul 2–16 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 26–Jun 23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Radish | – | May 12–Jun 23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | May 19–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 2–16 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 26–Jun 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Apr 21–May 19 (sow outdoors) | Jun 18–Jul 2 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 24–Apr 7 | May 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | May 5–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 2–16 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 24–Apr 7 | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Jul 30–Aug 27 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | May 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 30–Aug 27 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet potato | – | Jul 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 23–Jul 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 23–Jul 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 23–Jul 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 30–Jul 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jul 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | May 19–26 | Jun 23–Jul 7 (transplant) Jun 23–Jul 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | May 19–26 | Jun 23–Jul 7 (transplant) Jun 23–Jul 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | May 19–26 | Jun 23–Jul 7 (transplant) Jun 23–Jul 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 23–Jul 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | May 19–26 | Jun 30–Jul 14 (transplant) Jun 30–Jul 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | May 19–26 | Jun 30–Jul 14 (transplant) Jun 30–Jul 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | May 5–19 | Jun 30–Jul 14 (transplant) Jun 30–Jul 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 24–Apr 7 | Jun 23–30 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | May 5–19 | Jun 23–Jul 7 (transplant) Jun 23–Jul 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jun 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Apr 7–21 | Jun 2–16 (transplant) May 26–Jun 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jun 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jun 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) | Jul 2–30 (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 16 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Twin Lakes Rsvr, CO (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00058501), elevation 9,236 ft, 5.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buena Vista 2S, CO | 16 mi | May 27 | Sep 23 |
| Fairplay S Park Rd, CO | 20 mi | Jun 16 | Sep 9 |
| Taylor Park, CO | 23 mi | Jun 20 | Sep 8 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 24 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 81228
When is the last frost in 81228?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 81228 is June 16. For a more cautious planting date, use June 29, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 81228?
The average first fall freeze is September 10. In 1 year in 10 it comes by August 24.
What hardiness zone is 81228?
ZIP 81228 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 81228 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
81211 Buena Vista 81251 Twin Lakes 80440 Fairplay 80461 Leadville North 80420 Alma 81611 Aspen 81236 Nathrop 81642 Norrie
Other ZIP codes in Chaffee County
81201 81211 81227 81236 81242 All Chaffee 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
- 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.