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

Planting zone for 80611 — Briggsdale, CO

ZIP code 80611 (Briggsdale, Weld County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 12 and the first fall frost September 28.

Where ZIP 80611 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 frostMay 12
First frostSep 28
2012 zone5a

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 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Briggsdale, 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 Briggsdale, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 12median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 25only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 28median — 10% chance by Sep 15
Growing season135 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 3 and returns around October 5.

From the NOAA station Briggsdale, CO — 4 miles away, elevation 4,862 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 80611

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
TomatoesTransplant · May 19 – Jun 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 26 – Jun 9
BeansSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 3 – Aug 17
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 14 – Oct 19
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 12) and first fall frost (Sep 28) 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 80611 came on Mar 1 — 30 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31).

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 Briggsdale, CO.

Soil in Briggsdale, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 80611 is Renohill — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Renohill fine sandy loam, 0 to 6 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 80611; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Briggsdale, CO

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low9 °Faverage low, December
Hot days44days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights184nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,561base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 05 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 16 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation13.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall19 inper year

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 41 °F, low 10 °F 41°10° JanFebruary: average high 44 °F, low 13 °F 44°13° FebMarch: average high 55 °F, low 21 °F 55°21° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 30 °F 62°30° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 41 °F 71°41° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 50 °F 83°50° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 56 °F 90°56° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 54 °F 87°54° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 44 °F 79°44° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 31 °F 65°31° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 18 °F 51°18° NovDecember: average high 41 °F, low 9 °F 41°9° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 0.15 in precipitation, 2.4 in snowfall 0.1❄2 JanFebruary: 0.23 in precipitation, 2.3 in snowfall 0.2❄2 FebMarch: 0.76 in precipitation, 3.8 in snowfall 0.8❄4 MarApril: 1.49 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 1.5❄1 AprMay: 2.08 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 2.1 MayJune: 2.08 in precipitation 2.1 JunJuly: 1.75 in precipitation 1.8 JulAugust: 1.98 in precipitation 2.0 AugSeptember: 1.26 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.3 SepOctober: 0.87 in precipitation, 1.6 in snowfall 0.9❄2 OctNovember: 0.43 in precipitation, 2.8 in snowfall 0.4❄3 NovDecember: 0.35 in precipitation, 4.3 in snowfall 0.3❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Briggsdale, CO (4 mi away); precipitation: Briggsdale, CO (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

806225a
Galeton, CO · 12 mi
806495a
Orchard, CO · 16 mi
806245a
Gill, CO · 16 mi
807295a
Grover, CO · 17 mi
806105a
Ault, CO · 18 mi
806535a
Weldona, CO · 19 mi
806155a
Eaton, CO · 22 mi
806445a
Kersey, CO · 22 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 80611

What planting zone is ZIP code 80611?

ZIP code 80611 (Briggsdale, 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 Briggsdale, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 80611 is May 12; after May 25 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Briggsdale station.

When is the first frost in Briggsdale, CO?

The median first fall frost near 80611 is September 28, giving a median frost-free growing season of 135 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 80611?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 17 – Mar 31 and set transplants outside around May 19 – Jun 2, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 80611 get?

About 13.4 inches of precipitation a year and 19 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Briggsdale station).

How hot do summers get in Briggsdale, CO?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 44 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 80611 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Renohill at the center of ZIP 80611: fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 7.2 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Briggsdale, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 80611 came on Mar 1 in 2026, 30 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Briggsdale, CO?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 80611 is 15 h 05 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).