Fall in zone 5bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 81248 (Saguache 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, Cochetopa Creek, CO (14 miles away).
- Average last spring frostJun 2150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 550% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)74 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 81248, 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 81248 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 7 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jun 21 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jul 7 |
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 21 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 5 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Sep 16 |
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 21 | Sep 5 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jun 7 | Sep 16 |
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 81248
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jun 21) and first fall frost (Sep 5). 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 26–May 10 | Jun 28–Jul 12 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Apr 12–26 | Jul 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Apr 12–26 | Jul 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Apr 26–May 10 | Jun 28–Jul 12 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Apr 26–May 10 | May 31–Jun 21 (transplant) May 24–Jul 5 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–Aug 1 (transplant) |
| Spinach | – | May 10–31 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–Aug 1 (sowing) |
| Kale | Apr 26–May 10 | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | Jun 13–Jul 11 (transplant) |
| Collards | Apr 26–May 10 | May 24–Jun 21 (transplant) May 24–Jun 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Broccoli | Apr 12–26 | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) | – |
| Cabbage | Apr 12–26 | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) | – |
| Cauliflower | Apr 12–26 | Jun 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 29–Apr 12 | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) | – |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 26–May 10 | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | Jun 27–Jul 11 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | May 24–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–25 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | May 24–Jun 21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | May 24–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–25 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | May 10–24 | Jun 7–28 (transplant) Jun 7–Jul 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Beet | – | May 24–Jun 21 (sow outdoors) | Jun 27–Jul 11 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 31–Jun 28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Radish | – | May 17–Jun 28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | May 24–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | Jun 27–Jul 11 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 31–Jun 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Apr 26–May 24 (sow outdoors) | Jun 13–27 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 29–Apr 12 | May 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | May 10–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | Jun 27–Jul 11 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 29–Apr 12 | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Jul 25–Aug 22 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | May 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet potato | – | Jul 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 28–Jul 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 28–Jul 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 28–Jul 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jul 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jul 12–Aug 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | May 24–31 | Jun 28–Jul 12 (transplant) Jun 28–Jul 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | May 24–31 | Jun 28–Jul 12 (transplant) Jun 28–Jul 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | May 24–31 | Jun 28–Jul 12 (transplant) Jun 28–Jul 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 28–Jul 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | May 24–31 | Jul 5–19 (transplant) Jul 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | May 24–31 | Jul 5–19 (transplant) Jul 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | May 10–24 | Jul 5–19 (transplant) Jul 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 29–Apr 12 | Jun 28–Jul 5 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | May 10–24 | Jun 28–Jul 12 (transplant) Jun 28–Jul 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jun 7–Jul 5 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–25 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Apr 12–26 | Jun 7–21 (transplant) May 31–Jun 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jun 21–Jul 5 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–25 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jun 21–Jul 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) | Jun 27–Jul 25 (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 21 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Cochetopa Creek, CO (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00051713), elevation 8,006 ft, 14.2 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salida, CO | 27 mi | May 29 | Sep 20 |
| Taylor Park, CO | 28 mi | Jun 20 | Sep 8 |
| Saguache, CO | 30 mi | May 16 | Sep 28 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 36 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 81248
When is the last frost in 81248?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 81248 is June 21. For a more cautious planting date, use July 7, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 81248?
The average first fall freeze is September 5. In 1 year in 10 it comes by August 21.
What hardiness zone is 81248?
ZIP 81248 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 81248 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
81239 81227 Garfield 81237 81241 Pitkin 81236 Nathrop 81201 Maysville 81242 Poncha Springs 81149 Saguache
Other ZIP codes in Saguache County
81125 81131 81143 81149 81155 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.