Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Wheat Ridge, CO

Wheat Ridge, CO is in USDA zone 6a across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 5 and the first fall frost October 5.

Wheat Ridge on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMay 5
First frostOct 5
Growing season151 days

6a 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Wheat Ridge, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 5median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 5median — 10% chance by Sep 20
Growing season151 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 25 and returns around October 14.

From the NOAA station Wheat Ridge 2, CO, elevation 5,397 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Wheat Ridge

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 14
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
TomatoesTransplant · May 12 – May 26
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 19 – Jun 2
BeansSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 10 – Aug 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 21 – Oct 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 5) and first fall frost (Oct 5) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 80033 came on Feb 20 — 25 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 17).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 6a in Colorado

563 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Colorado, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 28

American elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °Fbalsam poplar80 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −79 °Fblack locust60 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −37 °Fblack walnut100 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Fblack willow100 ft · blooms early spring · high shade tolerance · to −58 °Fblue spruce100 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Shrubs 104

alderleaf mountain mahogany15 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −41 °Falpine laurel1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fantelope bitterbrush6 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −36 °FApache plume6 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −23 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 251

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine aster0.3 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °Falpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine mountainsorrel1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °FAmerican alpine speedwell1 ft · blooms summer · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican bistort1.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 167

Alaska oniongrass3 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Falkali cordgrass3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAlpine Meadow-Foxtail0.5 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Falpine timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °Fanalogue sedge1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 4

riverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Ftrumpet creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °FVirginia creeper1 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °Fwestern white clematis1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Wheat Ridge, CO.

Soil in Wheat Ridge, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 80033 is Alda — loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Alda loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 80033; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Wheat Ridge, CO

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low17 °Faverage low, January
Hot days39days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights168nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,681base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 59 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 21 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation17.5 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 47 °F, low 17 °F 47°17° JanFebruary: average high 48 °F, low 18 °F 48°18° FebMarch: average high 57 °F, low 26 °F 57°26° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 33 °F 62°33° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 43 °F 71°43° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 51 °F 83°51° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 57 °F 88°57° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 55 °F 86°55° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 45 °F 79°45° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 34 °F 66°34° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 24 °F 55°24° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 17 °F 47°17° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 0.69 in precipitation 0.7 JanFebruary: 0.84 in precipitation 0.8 FebMarch: 1.47 in precipitation 1.5 MarApril: 2.25 in precipitation 2.3 AprMay: 2.66 in precipitation 2.7 MayJune: 1.86 in precipitation 1.9 JunJuly: 1.94 in precipitation 1.9 JulAugust: 1.73 in precipitation 1.7 AugSeptember: 1.29 in precipitation 1.3 SepOctober: 1.22 in precipitation 1.2 OctNovember: 0.89 in precipitation 0.9 NovDecember: 0.64 in precipitation 0.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Wheat Ridge 2, CO (within 1 mile); precipitation: Wheat Ridge 0.9 Wsw, CO (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Wheat Ridge

800336a
−10 to −5 °F
800346a
−10 to −5 °F

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about Wheat Ridge

What planting zone is Wheat Ridge, CO?

Wheat Ridge, CO is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map (6a: −10 to −5 °F).

When is the last frost in Wheat Ridge, CO?

The median last spring frost is May 5 and the median first fall frost is October 5 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wheat Ridge 2 station).

When can I plant a garden in Wheat Ridge, CO?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 24 – Apr 14; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 12, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Wheat Ridge, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 59 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Wheat Ridge, CO get?

About 17.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).