Frost dates for 81430Placerville, CO
The average last spring frost in Placerville is May 26 and the average first fall frost is September 29, giving a typical growing season of about 125 days. Dates are based on NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals.
- Average last spring frost
- May 26
- Average first fall frost
- Sep 29
- Growing season
- 125 days
Safer after Jun 6 (1-in-10 risk)
Possible by Sep 17 (1-in-10 risk)
Last frost typically in 211 days
Frost risk by date
NOAA reports frost dates as probabilities. The middle date is the average (a 50% chance). For spring, the 10% date is a safer planting date: frost after it happens in about 1 year in 10. Light frost (36°F) can damage tender plants; a hard freeze (28°F) kills most annuals.
| Temperature | Last spring: 90% / 50% / 10% chance | First fall: 10% / 50% / 90% chance | Growing season (50%) | Years with at least one |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light frost (36°F) | May 25 · Jun 4 · Jun 19 | Sep 7 · Sep 20 · Oct 1 | 105 days | 100% |
| Frost / freeze (32°F) | May 14 · May 26 · Jun 6 | Sep 17 · Sep 29 · Oct 10 | 125 days | 100% |
| Hard freeze (28°F) | Apr 30 · May 13 · May 26 | Sep 26 · Oct 6 · Oct 18 | 146 days | 100% |
Planting calendar for Placerville
Planting windows from the University of Maryland Extension calendar, shifted to your average frost dates. Use them as a starting point and adjust for seed packet instructions and local conditions.
| Crop | Task | Window |
|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors | Apr 25 – Jul 1 |
| Tomatoes | Transplant outdoors | Jun 11 – Jun 9 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors | Apr 25 – May 26 |
| Peppers | Transplant outdoors | Jun 25 – Jul 26 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors | May 12 – Jun 10 |
| Eggplant | Transplant outdoors | Jun 25 – Jul 26 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors | Jun 25 – Jun 19 |
| Summer squash | Sow outdoors | Jun 11 – Jul 26 |
| Winter squash & pumpkins | Sow outdoors | Jun 25 – Jul 26 |
| Snap beans | Sow outdoors | Jun 11 – Jul 12 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors | Jun 11 – Jun 9 |
| Watermelon & cantaloupe | Sow outdoors | Jun 25 – Jul 26 |
| Okra | Sow outdoors | Jun 18 – Jul 11 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors (spring) | Apr 25 – Jun 10 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors (spring) | Apr 25 – Jun 25 |
| Onions | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Mar 14 – Apr 10 |
| Onions | Transplant outdoors (spring) | May 12 – Jun 10 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Apr 7 – May 11 |
| Broccoli | Transplant outdoors (spring) | May 12 – Jun 10 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors (fall) | May 30 – Jun 9 |
| Broccoli | Transplant outdoors (fall) | Jun 29 – Jul 10 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Mar 28 – Apr 25 |
| Cabbage | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Apr 25 – May 26 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors (fall) | May 20 – Jun 19 |
| Cabbage | Transplant outdoors (fall) | Jun 19 – Jul 20 |
| Leaf lettuce | Sow outdoors (spring) | Apr 25 – Jul 11 |
| Leaf lettuce | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jun 19 – Aug 5 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors (spring) | Apr 18 – Jun 1 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jul 6 – Aug 10 |
| Radishes | Sow outdoors (spring) | Apr 25 – Jun 15 |
| Radishes | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jun 19 – Aug 20 |
| Kale | Sow outdoors (spring) | May 12 – Jun 1 |
| Kale | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jun 12 – Jul 20 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors (spring) | May 26 – Jul 11 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors (fall) | May 20 – Jul 5 |
| Garlic | Plant outdoors (fall) | Sep 19 – Oct 20 |
Where these dates come from
ZIP code 81430 is matched to the NOAA station Placerville, CO, 0.2 km away, at 7,383 ft elevation (76 ft higher than the ZIP code's center). Nearby stations for comparison:
| Station | Elevation | Avg last frost | Avg first frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Placerville, CO (used) | 7,383 ft | May 26 | Sep 29 |
| Telluride 4Wnw, CO | 8,646 ft | — | — |
| Norwood #2, CO | 7,011 ft | May 21 | Oct 1 |
| Norwood, CO | 7,020 ft | May 25 | Oct 1 |
Frost dates near Placerville
- Telluride, CO 81435 · last —, first —
- Norwood, CO 81423 · last May 25, first Oct 1
- Ophir, CO 81426 · last —, first —
- Ridgway, CO 81432 · last Jun 11, first Sep 13
- Ouray, CO 81427 · last May 17, first Oct 1
- Redvale, CO 81431 · last May 25, first Oct 1
- Rico, CO 81332 · last —, first —
- Montrose, CO 81403 · last Jun 11, first Sep 13
Frequently asked questions
- When is the last frost in Placerville, CO?
- For ZIP code 81430, the average last spring frost (32°F) is May 26, based on NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for the Placerville, CO weather station. There is a 1-in-10 chance of a frost after June 6.
- When is the first frost in Placerville, CO?
- The average first fall frost (32°F) is September 29. There is a 1-in-10 chance of frost by September 17, so tender plants are at risk from that point on.
- How long is the growing season in 81430?
- In half of years, the frost-free season (between the last and first 32°F frost) is at least 125 days long.
- Are these frost dates a forecast?
- No. They are 30-year averages and probabilities from NOAA weather station records. Use them to plan, then watch your local forecast before planting tender crops or leaving them uncovered.