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

Planting zone for 80612 — Carr, CO

ZIP code 80612 (Carr, Weld County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost September 27.

Where ZIP 80612 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 13
First frostSep 27
2012 zone5a

Was 5a 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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Carr, 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 Carr, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 13median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 27only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 27median — 10% chance by Sep 14
Growing season136 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 4 and returns around October 7.

From the NOAA station Nunn 7 Nne, CO — 6 miles away, elevation 5,391 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 80612

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 22
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 22 – May 6
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
TomatoesTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 27 – Jun 10
BeansSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 2 – Aug 16
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 13 – Oct 18
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 13) and first fall frost (Sep 27) 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 80612 came on Mar 9 — 26 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 4).

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 Carr, CO.

Soil in Carr, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 80612 is Cascajo — gravelly sandy loam, excessively drained.

TextureGravelly sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.9alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Cascajo gravelly sandy loam, 5 to 20 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 80612; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Carr, CO

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days34days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights183nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,280base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 07 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 14 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation14.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 42 °F, low 14 °F 42°14° JanFebruary: average high 44 °F, low 15 °F 44°15° FebMarch: average high 53 °F, low 23 °F 53°23° MarApril: average high 60 °F, low 30 °F 60°30° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 40 °F 69°40° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 48 °F 80°48° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 54 °F 87°54° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 53 °F 85°53° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 44 °F 76°44° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 32 °F 62°32° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 21 °F 50°21° NovDecember: average high 41 °F, low 14 °F 41°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 0.28 in precipitation 0.3 JanFebruary: 0.36 in precipitation 0.4 FebMarch: 0.83 in precipitation 0.8 MarApril: 1.61 in precipitation 1.6 AprMay: 2.54 in precipitation 2.5 MayJune: 2.36 in precipitation 2.4 JunJuly: 1.91 in precipitation 1.9 JulAugust: 1.95 in precipitation 1.9 AugSeptember: 1.07 in precipitation 1.1 SepOctober: 0.95 in precipitation 0.9 OctNovember: 0.45 in precipitation 0.5 NovDecember: 0.27 in precipitation 0.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Nunn 7 Nne, CO (6 mi away); precipitation: Carr 0.6 S, CO (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

806485a
Nunn, CO · 9 mi
805495b
Wellington, CO · 12 mi
820075b
Cheyenne, WY · 16 mi
806505b
Pierce, CO · 16 mi
820015b
Cheyenne, WY · 16 mi
820025b
Cheyenne, WY · 18 mi
820065b
Cheyenne, WY · 18 mi
820105b
Cheyenne, WY · 18 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 80612

What planting zone is ZIP code 80612?

ZIP code 80612 (Carr, 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 Carr, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 80612 is May 13; after May 27 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Nunn 7 Nne station.

When is the first frost in Carr, CO?

The median first fall frost near 80612 is September 27, giving a median frost-free growing season of 136 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 80612?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 18 – Apr 1 and set transplants outside around May 20 – Jun 3, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 80612 get?

About 14.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Carr 0.6 S station).

How hot do summers get in Carr, CO?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 34 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 80612 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Cascajo at the center of ZIP 80612: gravelly sandy loam, excessively drained, pH about 7.9 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Carr, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 80612 came on Mar 9 in 2026, 26 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 4), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Carr, CO?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 80612 is 15 h 07 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 80612 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 80612 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.