Frost dates for Blue Mesa Lake, CO
When the last spring frost and first fall frost usually come, and when to plant, from 30 years of NOAA weather records.
Last spring frost
June 9
typical year
Safe to plant
June 24
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
September 16
typical year
Growing season
96 days
frost-free, typical year
Frost watch this week
Tonight's and the next six nights' lows from the National Weather Service forecast for the station's location. Frost: 32°F or colder. Possible frost: 33–36°F, mostly in low spots on clear, still nights.
When to plant
Counted from this page's frost dates. Warm-season crops wait for the safe-to-plant date.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool-season crops | |||
| Peas | – | May 12 – 26 | – |
| Spinach | – | Apr 28 – May 19 | Jul 22 – Aug 5 |
| Lettuce | – | May 12 – Jun 2 | Jul 22 – Aug 5 |
| Radishes | – | May 12 – Jun 23 | Aug 5 – 19 |
| Onions | – | May 12 – 26 | – |
| Potatoes | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Carrots | – | May 19 – Jun 9 | Jun 24 – Jul 8 |
| Beets | – | May 12 – 26 | Jul 8 – 22 |
| Kale | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | May 12 – 26 | Jul 8 – 22 |
| Broccoli | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | May 26 – Jun 9 | Jul 8 – 22 |
| Cabbage | Mar 17 – 31 | May 12 – 26 | Jul 8 – 22 |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 5 – 26 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Apr 29 – May 13 | Jun 24 – Jul 8 | – |
| Peppers | Apr 22 – May 6 | Jul 1 – 15 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | Jun 24 – Jul 15 | – |
| Zucchini | – | Jun 24 – Jul 22 | – |
| Pumpkins | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Green beans | – | Jun 24 – Jul 8 | – |
| Sweet corn | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Basil | May 20 – Jun 3 | Jul 1 – 8 | – |
Onions: from sets. Green beans: until 10 weeks before the first fall frost. Garlic: harvest next summer.
The year at a glance
Start indoors Plant outside Fall planting
The chance of frost, by date
| 1 year in 10 | Half of years | 9 years in 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring frost after | June 24 | June 9 | May 26 |
| Fall frost before | September 3 | September 16 | September 27 |
Frost here means 32°F or colder. Read across: in 1 year in 10, spring frost carries on past the first date, which is why that date is the safe-to-plant date.
Hard freeze (28°F)
A hard freeze kills most garden plants, even hardy ones. The last one in spring usually comes around May 25 (June 7 in a late year), and the first one in fall around September 27.
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station BLUE MESA LAKE, CO US (USC00050797), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 1 zip code, all within 14 miles:
81243
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.