Fall in zone 6aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 81301 (Durango, 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, Lemon Dam, CO (14 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 2850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 3050% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)122 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 81301, 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
47°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 46°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Cortez 8 SE (42 mi).
4-inch depth
48°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 49°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Cortez 8 SE (42 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 81301 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 13 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 28 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 10 |
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 15 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 30 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 12 |
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 19 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 28 | Sep 30 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 12 | Oct 10 |
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 81301
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 28) and first fall frost (Sep 30). 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 2–16 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 19–Apr 2 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 19–Apr 2 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Apr 2–16 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Apr 2–16 | May 7–28 (transplant) Apr 30–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–26 (transplant) Jul 22–Aug 19 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 16–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–26 (sowing) |
| Kale | Apr 2–16 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) Apr 30–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 8–Aug 5 (transplant) Jun 24–Jul 22 (sowing) |
| Collards | Apr 2–16 | Apr 30–May 28 (transplant) Apr 30–May 28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 8–Aug 5 (transplant) Jun 24–Jul 22 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 19–Apr 2 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | Jun 24–Jul 22 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 19–Apr 2 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | Jun 24–Jul 22 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 19–Apr 2 | May 14–28 (transplant) | Jun 24–Jul 22 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 5–19 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | Jun 10–Jul 1 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 2–16 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) Apr 30–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 22–Aug 5 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 30–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 30–May 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 30–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 16–30 | May 14–Jun 4 (transplant) May 14–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 22–Aug 5 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 30–May 28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 22–Aug 5 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 7–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 8–22 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 23–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 30–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 22–Aug 5 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Apr 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Jul 8–22 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 5–19 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 16–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 22–Aug 5 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 5–19 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 19–Sep 16 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | Jun 10–24 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 18–Jul 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 30–May 7 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 30–May 7 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 30–May 7 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 30–May 7 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 30–May 7 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 16–30 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 5–19 | Jun 4–11 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 16–30 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 14–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 19–Apr 2 | May 14–28 (transplant) May 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 19 (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 28 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Lemon Dam, CO (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00054934), elevation 8,110 ft, 13.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vallecito Reservoir, CO | 17 mi | May 18 | Oct 11 |
| Durango, CO | 17 mi | May 21 | Oct 2 |
| Vallecito Dam, CO | 17 mi | May 31 | Sep 26 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 13 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 81301
When is the last frost in 81301?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 81301 is May 28. For a more cautious planting date, use June 10, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 81301?
The average first fall freeze is September 30. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 15.
What hardiness zone is 81301?
ZIP 81301 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 81301 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
81332 Rico 81433 Silverton 81323 Dolores 81122 Bayfield 81426 Ophir 81435 Mountain Village 81303 81326 Marvel
Other ZIP codes in La Plata County
81122 81137 81303 81326 All La Plata 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.