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

Planting zone for 80424 — Breckenridge, CO

ZIP code 80424 (Breckenridge, Summit County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is June 16 and the first fall frost September 9.

Where ZIP 80424 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
Coldest night−28.9 to −26.1 °C
Last frostJun 16
First frostSep 9
2012 zone4b

Was 4b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Breckenridge, CO…

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 Breckenridge, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostJune 16median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 30only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 9median — 10% chance by Aug 21
Growing season83 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around June 2 and returns around September 21.

From the NOAA station Fairplay S Park Rd, CO — 17 miles away, elevation 9,997 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 80424

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
SpinachSow outdoors · May 5 – May 26
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 26 – Jun 9
Onion setsPlant outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 26 – Jun 9
LettuceSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 26 – Jun 9
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 21 – May 5
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 23 – Jul 7
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 30 – Jul 14
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 23 – Jul 7
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 23 – Jul 7
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 23 – Jul 7
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 15 – Jul 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Aug 26 – Sep 30
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Jun 16) and first fall frost (Sep 9) 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 80424 came on May 15 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (May 24).

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 5a in Colorado

532 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Colorado, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 27

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 95

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 239

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 159

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 3

riverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °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 Breckenridge, CO.

Soil in Breckenridge, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 80424 is Grenadier — gravelly loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Grenadier gravelly loam, 15 to 55 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 80424; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Breckenridge, CO

Summer high75 °Faverage high, July
Winter low2 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights274nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days483base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 57 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 23 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation21.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall185 inper year; 179 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 31 °F, low 2 °F 31°2° JanFebruary: average high 33 °F, low 4 °F 33°4° FebMarch: average high 41 °F, low 11 °F 41°11° MarApril: average high 48 °F, low 18 °F 48°18° AprMay: average high 58 °F, low 26 °F 58°26° MayJune: average high 69 °F, low 33 °F 69°33° JunJuly: average high 75 °F, low 38 °F 75°38° JulAugust: average high 73 °F, low 37 °F 73°37° AugSeptember: average high 66 °F, low 30 °F 66°30° SepOctober: average high 54 °F, low 21 °F 54°21° OctNovember: average high 41 °F, low 11 °F 41°11° NovDecember: average high 32 °F, low 3 °F 32°3° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 1.73 in precipitation, 27.7 in snowfall 1.7❄28 JanFebruary: 1.88 in precipitation, 27.7 in snowfall 1.9❄28 FebMarch: 2.03 in precipitation, 27.6 in snowfall 2.0❄28 MarApril: 2.46 in precipitation, 28 in snowfall 2.5❄28 AprMay: 1.97 in precipitation, 9.5 in snowfall 2.0❄10 MayJune: 1.16 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 1.2❄1 JunJuly: 2.45 in precipitation 2.5 JulAugust: 2.24 in precipitation 2.2 AugSeptember: 1.53 in precipitation, 2.2 in snowfall 1.5❄2 SepOctober: 1.35 in precipitation, 13.6 in snowfall 1.4❄14 OctNovember: 1.45 in precipitation, 23.7 in snowfall 1.4❄24 NovDecember: 1.52 in precipitation, 23.8 in snowfall 1.5❄24 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Dillon 1 E, CO (11 mi away); precipitation: Breckenridge, CO (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

2 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

804355a
Dillon, CO · 8 mi
804485b
Grant, CO · 9 mi
804435a
Frisco, CO · 9 mi
804205a
Alma, CO · 12 mi
804974b
Silverthorne, CO · 13 mi
816495a
Red Cliff, CO · 15 mi
804765a
Silver Plume, CO · 16 mi
804325a
Como, CO · 19 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 80424

What planting zone is ZIP code 80424?

ZIP code 80424 (Breckenridge, CO) is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −20 to −15 °F (−28.9 to −26.1 °C).

When is the last frost in Breckenridge, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 80424 is June 16; after June 30 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Fairplay S Park Rd station.

When is the first frost in Breckenridge, CO?

The median first fall frost near 80424 is September 9, giving a median frost-free growing season of 83 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 80424?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Apr 21 – May 5 and set transplants outside around Jun 23 – Jul 7, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 80424 get?

About 21.8 inches of precipitation a year and 185 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Breckenridge station).

How hot do summers get in Breckenridge, CO?

The average high peaks at 75 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 80424 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Grenadier at the center of ZIP 80424: gravelly loam, well drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Breckenridge, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 80424 came on May 15 in 2026, 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (May 24), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Breckenridge, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 80424 is 14 h 57 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 80424 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 80424 in zone 4b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.