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

Planting zone for 80535 — Laporte, CO

ZIP code 80535 (Laporte, Larimer County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 21 and the first fall frost September 29.

Where ZIP 80535 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostMay 21
First frostSep 29
2012 zone5b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Laporte, 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 Laporte, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 21median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 4only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 29median — 10% chance by Sep 12
Growing season128 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 11 and returns around October 6.

From the NOAA station Buckhorn Mtn 1 E, CO — 10 miles away, elevation 7,402 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 80535

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 30
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 30 – May 14
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
TomatoesTransplant · May 28 – Jun 11
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 4 – Jun 18
BeansSow outdoors · May 28 – Jun 11
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 28 – Jun 11
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 28 – Jun 11
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 4 – Aug 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 15 – Oct 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 21) and first fall frost (Sep 29) 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 80535 came on Mar 1 — 37 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7).

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 5b in Colorado

546 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Colorado, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. 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 98

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 246

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 163

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 Laporte, CO.

Soil in Laporte, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 80535 is Ratake — channery loam, well drained.

TextureChannery loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Ratake-Rock outcrop complex, 25 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 80535; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Laporte, CO

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low20 °Faverage low, February
Hot days4days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights164nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,910base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 06 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 15 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation17.2 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 40 °F, low 21 °F 40°21° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 20 °F 40°20° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 26 °F 47°26° MarApril: average high 51 °F, low 30 °F 51°30° AprMay: average high 60 °F, low 39 °F 60°39° MayJune: average high 72 °F, low 49 °F 72°49° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 56 °F 79°56° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 55 °F 78°55° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 47 °F 70°47° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 36 °F 57°36° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 28 °F 47°28° NovDecember: average high 40 °F, low 20 °F 40°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.38 in precipitation 0.4 JanFebruary: 0.50 in precipitation 0.5 FebMarch: 1.16 in precipitation 1.2 MarApril: 2.22 in precipitation 2.2 AprMay: 3.04 in precipitation 3.0 MayJune: 1.96 in precipitation 2.0 JunJuly: 2.15 in precipitation 2.1 JulAugust: 1.33 in precipitation 1.3 AugSeptember: 1.72 in precipitation 1.7 SepOctober: 1.61 in precipitation 1.6 OctNovember: 0.72 in precipitation 0.7 NovDecember: 0.44 in precipitation 0.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Buckhorn Mtn 1 E, CO (10 mi away); precipitation: La Porte 10.0 Nnw, CO (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

805225b
Fort Collins, CO · 10 mi
805215b
Fort Collins, CO · 10 mi
805245b
Fort Collins, CO · 10 mi
805495b
Wellington, CO · 11 mi
805275b
Fort Collins, CO · 12 mi
805535b
Fort Collins, CO · 12 mi
805385b
Loveland, CO · 14 mi
805365b
Livermore, CO · 14 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 80535

What planting zone is ZIP code 80535?

ZIP code 80535 (Laporte, CO) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in Laporte, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 80535 is May 21; after June 4 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Buckhorn Mtn 1 E station.

When is the first frost in Laporte, CO?

The median first fall frost near 80535 is September 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 128 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 80535?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 26 – Apr 9 and set transplants outside around May 28 – Jun 11, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 80535 get?

About 17.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, La Porte 10.0 Nnw station).

How hot do summers get in Laporte, CO?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 4 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 80535 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Ratake at the center of ZIP 80535: channery loam, well drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Laporte, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 80535 came on Mar 1 in 2026, 37 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Laporte, CO?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 80535 is 15 h 06 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).