Fall in zone 7aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 81330 (Montezuma 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, Cortez 8 SE, CO (2 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 650% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 1450% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)158 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7a0 to 5°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 81330, 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
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Cortez 8 SE, 2 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 48°, Fri 48°, Sat 47°.
4-inch depth
48°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 49°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Cortez 8 SE, 2 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 48°, Fri 49°, Sat 48°.
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 81330 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 48°F at 4 inches. 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) | Apr 22 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 6 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 27 |
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 30 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 14 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 2 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 19 | Oct 4 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 6 | Oct 14 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 26 | Oct 27 |
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 81330
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (Oct 14). 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 11–25 | May 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 25–Mar 11 | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 25–Mar 11 | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 11–25 | May 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 11–25 | Apr 15–May 6 (transplant) Apr 8–May 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 9 (transplant) Aug 5–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 25–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 9 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 11–25 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 22–Aug 19 (transplant) Jul 8–Aug 5 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 11–25 | Apr 8–May 6 (transplant) Apr 8–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Jul 22–Aug 19 (transplant) Jul 8–Aug 5 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | Jul 8–Aug 5 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | Jul 8–Aug 5 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | Jul 8–Aug 5 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 11–25 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | Jun 24–Jul 15 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 11–25 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 8–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 8–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 25–Apr 8 | Apr 22–May 13 (transplant) Apr 22–May 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 8–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 15–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Jul 22–Aug 5 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 1–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 8–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 15–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 11–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 22–Aug 5 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 11–25 | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 25–Apr 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 11–25 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 2–30 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (transplant) | Sep 2–30 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | Jun 24–Jul 8 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 27–Jun 10 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 27–Jun 17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 8–15 | May 13–27 (transplant) May 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 8–15 | May 13–27 (transplant) May 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 8–15 | May 13–27 (transplant) May 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 8–15 | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 8–15 | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 25–Apr 8 | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 11–25 | May 13–20 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 25–Apr 8 | May 13–27 (transplant) May 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 22–May 20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 25–Mar 11 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) Apr 15–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | Aug 5–Sep 2 (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 6 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Cortez 8 SE, CO (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00003061), elevation 8,034 ft, 2.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mesa Verde Np, CO | 2 mi | May 9 | Oct 14 |
| Cortez Montezuma Co AP, CO | 9 mi | May 27 | Sep 28 |
| Cortez, CO | 10 mi | May 12 | Oct 7 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 21 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 81330
When is the last frost in 81330?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 81330 is May 6. For a more cautious planting date, use May 27, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 81330?
The average first fall freeze is October 14. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 30.
What hardiness zone is 81330?
ZIP 81330 is in USDA zone 7a (0 to 5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 81330 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
81328 Mancos 81334 Towaoc 81321 Cortez 81326 Marvel 81327 Lewis 81335 87418 La Plata 81331
Other ZIP codes in Montezuma County
81321 81327 81328 81331 81334 81335 All Montezuma County frost dates · Colorado frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
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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.