Frost dates & planting calendar for Colorado Springs, CO
Frost dates
May 3
Last spring frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, the last frost comes later.
Safer date: May 15. Only 1 freeze year in 10 has a frost after this.
Oct 8
First fall frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, it comes earlier.
Early date: Sep 26. Only 1 freeze year in 10 freezes before this.
158
Days, typical frost-free season
From NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals for this station.
6a
USDA hardiness zone
Coldest night of the winter, averaged over 1991–2020: −10 to −5°F (−23.3 to −20.6°C).
Zone for ZIP 80909, the ZIP nearest the city center; zones can vary within a city. What zone 6a means.
What to plant right now
As of Nov 9, 2026
Typical frost-free season: 158 days. Station: Colorado Springs Muni Airport, CO, 9 km away. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (32°F threshold).
Hardiness zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed 9 Nov 2026.
Can I plant tomatoes now?
Not this season. Start tomato seeds indoors from Mar 20 to Apr 3, then plant them out from May 15 to May 29.
Planting calendar
Windows are counted from the safer dates (May 15 in spring, Sep 26 in fall). Going by the typical dates instead gains you about 2 weeks in spring, with more risk.
March
The next window opens in March.
Peppertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 6
- Start indoors
- Mar 6 – Mar 20
- Transplant outdoors
- May 15 – May 29
Parsleyhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 6
- Start indoors
- Mar 6 – Mar 20
- Sow outdoors
- May 1 – May 15
Tomatotender
Next: start indoors from Mar 20
- Start indoors
- Mar 20 – Apr 3
- Transplant outdoors
- May 15 – May 29
Eggplanttender
Next: start indoors from Mar 20
- Start indoors
- Mar 20 – Apr 3
- Transplant outdoors
- May 15 – May 29
Broccolihardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 20
- Start indoors
- Mar 20 – Apr 3
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 17 – May 15
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 17 – May 1
- Sow for fall
- Jul 4 – Jul 18
Cabbagehardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 20
- Start indoors
- Mar 20 – Apr 3
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 17 – May 15
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 17 – May 1
- Sow for fall
- Jul 4 – Jul 18
Cauliflowerhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 20
- Start indoors
- Mar 20 – Apr 3
- Transplant outdoors
- May 1 – May 15
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 24 – May 15
- Sow for fall
- Jul 4 – Jul 18
Brussels sproutshardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 20
- Start indoors
- Mar 20 – Apr 3
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 24 – Apr 24
- Sow for fall
- Jul 4 – Jul 18
Marigoldtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 20
- Start indoors
- Mar 20 – Mar 20
- Transplant outdoors
- May 15 – May 15
Calendulahalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 20
- Start indoors
- Mar 20 – Apr 3
- Sow outdoors
- May 8 – May 15
Mexican sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 20
- Start indoors
- Mar 20 – Apr 3
- Sow outdoors
- May 15 – May 15
April
The next window opens in April.
Leaf lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 3
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 17 – May 1
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 3 – May 1
Head lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 3
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 17 – May 1
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 3 – May 1
Zinniatender
Next: start indoors from Apr 3
- Start indoors
- Apr 3 – Apr 17
- Sow outdoors
- May 15 – May 15
Nasturtiumtender
Next: start indoors from Apr 3
- Start indoors
- Apr 3 – Apr 17
- Sow outdoors
- May 15 – May 15
Sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Apr 3
- Start indoors
- Apr 3 – Apr 17
Cucumbertender
Next: start indoors from Apr 17
- Start indoors
- Apr 17 – May 1
- Sow outdoors
- May 15 – May 22
Summer squashtender
Next: start indoors from Apr 17
- Start indoors
- Apr 17 – May 1
- Sow outdoors
- May 15 – May 22
Winter squashtender
Next: start indoors from Apr 17
- Start indoors
- Apr 17 – May 1
- Sow outdoors
- May 22 – May 29
Watermelontender
Next: start indoors from Apr 17
- Start indoors
- Apr 17 – May 1
- Transplant outdoors
- May 22 – May 29
- Sow outdoors
- May 22 – May 29
Cantaloupetender
Next: start indoors from Apr 17
- Start indoors
- Apr 17 – Apr 24
- Sow outdoors
- May 22 – May 29
Peahardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 17
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 17 – May 1
Spinachhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 17
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 17 – May 1
Kohlrabihardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 17
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 17 – May 1
- Sow for fall
- Jul 4 – Jul 18
Radishhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 17
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 17 – May 1
Beethalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 17
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 17 – May 15
Turniphardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 17
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 17 – May 1
Bulb onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 17
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 17 – May 1
Green onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 17
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 17 – May 1
Kalehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 24
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 24 – Apr 24
- Sow for fall
- Jul 4 – Jul 18
Collardshardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 24
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 24 – Apr 24
- Sow for fall
- Jul 4 – Jul 18
May
The next window opens in May.
Swiss chardhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from May 1
- Sow outdoors
- May 1 – May 15
Carrothalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from May 1
- Sow outdoors
- May 1 – May 15
Potatohalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from May 1
- Sow outdoors
- May 1 – May 15
Parsniphalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from May 1
- Sow outdoors
- May 1 – May 15
Dillhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from May 1
- Sow outdoors
- May 1 – May 8
Bush beantender
Next: sow outdoors from May 15
- Sow outdoors
- May 15 – May 15
Pole beantender
Next: sow outdoors from May 15
- Sow outdoors
- May 15 – May 15
Sweet corntender
Next: sow outdoors from May 15
- Sow outdoors
- May 15 – May 15
Basiltender
Next: sow outdoors from May 15
- Sow outdoors
- May 15 – May 15
Marjoramtender
Next: transplant outdoors from May 15
- Transplant outdoors
- May 15 – May 15
Pumpkintender
Next: sow outdoors from May 22
- Sow outdoors
- May 22 – May 29
Lima beantender
Next: sow outdoors from May 29
- Sow outdoors
- May 29 – May 29
August
The next window opens in August.
Sweet alyssumhardy
Next: sow for fall from Aug 15
- Sow for fall
- Aug 15 – Aug 15
No window listed
No frost-based window for these crops.
Mustard greenshalf hardy
No frost-based window listed.
No frost-based sowing window is listed for mustard greens.
Crop guidance from university extension services; see each crop page for sources.
Questions
- When is the last frost in Colorado Springs?
- The typical last spring frost (32°F) in Colorado Springs is May 3. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, a frost still comes after May 15.
- When is the first frost in Colorado Springs?
- The typical first fall frost is Oct 8. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, it arrives before Sep 26.
- When should I start tomato seeds in Colorado Springs?
- Start tomato seeds indoors between Mar 20 and Apr 3, counting back from the safer last-frost date.
- What planting zone is Colorado Springs in?
- Colorado Springs is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map, going by ZIP 80909, the ZIP nearest the city center. Zones can vary within a city. The zone describes how cold winter nights get, not when to plant; for that, use the frost dates on this page.
Nearby cities
- Denver, CO 100 km
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