FrostDateCheck

Wellington, CO 80535 Frost Dates

When can you plant in Wellington, CO?

Zone 5b

Around 05/21 is the usual last spring frost, about 266 days away. The first fall frost typically arrives around 09/29, about 128 frost-free days later.

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts Wellington in Zone 5b (-15 to -10°F average annual minimum); frost dates are NOAA's 1991-2020 station normal, not this year's forecast.

What to do before the first frost

About 5 weeks of growing season left in Wellington before the first fall frost — a cold frame or row cover can stretch harvest weeks past that date.

How much risk comes with planting early here

05/21 is the middle of 30 years of NOAA records, not a promise. Plant by 05/09 and you're betting against frost in roughly 9 years out of 10. 06/04 is the safer bet, historically only a 1-in-10 chance of frost that late.

How Wellington compares

Wellington's growing season runs about 128 days, ranking 38,532 of 40,283 US ZIP codes measured here, longest to shortest. Within CO, it ranks 439 of 624.

Learn more

local microclimates covers what one yard in Wellington can differ from the 80535 normal. zone vs. frost date covers why Zone 5b and Wellington's frost date answer different questions.