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

Planting zone for 80732 — Hereford, CO

ZIP code 80732 (Hereford, Weld County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 14 and the first fall frost September 26.

Where ZIP 80732 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 14
First frostSep 26
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 Hereford, 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 Hereford, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 14median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 27only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 26median — 10% chance by Sep 12
Growing season133 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 3 and returns around October 4.

From the NOAA station Carpenter 3n, WY — 7 miles away, elevation 5,437 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 80732

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 23
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
TomatoesTransplant · May 21 – Jun 4
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 28 – Jun 11
BeansSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 1 – Aug 15
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 12 – Oct 17
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 14) and first fall frost (Sep 26) 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 80732 came on Mar 2 — 32 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 3).

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 Hereford, CO.

Soil in Hereford, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 80732 is Altvan — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Altvan 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 80732; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Hereford, CO

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days27days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights176nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,281base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 07 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 13 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation15.5 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 40 °F, low 13 °F 40°13° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 14 °F 42°14° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 21 °F 52°21° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 30 °F 59°30° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 40 °F 68°40° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 48 °F 81°48° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 55 °F 87°55° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 53 °F 85°53° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 43 °F 77°43° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 33 °F 63°33° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 21 °F 49°21° NovDecember: average high 41 °F, low 13 °F 41°13° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 0.25 in precipitation 0.3 JanFebruary: 0.23 in precipitation 0.2 FebMarch: 0.86 in precipitation 0.9 MarApril: 1.61 in precipitation 1.6 AprMay: 2.62 in precipitation 2.6 MayJune: 2.51 in precipitation 2.5 JunJuly: 2.15 in precipitation 2.1 JulAugust: 1.80 in precipitation 1.8 AugSeptember: 1.37 in precipitation 1.4 SepOctober: 1.19 in precipitation 1.2 OctNovember: 0.53 in precipitation 0.5 NovDecember: 0.39 in precipitation 0.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Carpenter 3n, WY (7 mi away); precipitation: Carpenter 8.3 E, WY (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

820545b
Carpenter, WY · 6 mi
807295a
Grover, CO · 9 mi
820535a
Burns, WY · 18 mi
820075b
Cheyenne, WY · 21 mi
820035b
Cheyenne, WY · 24 mi
806115a
Briggsdale, CO · 25 mi
806105a
Ault, CO · 26 mi
806485a
Nunn, CO · 27 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 80732

What planting zone is ZIP code 80732?

ZIP code 80732 (Hereford, 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 Hereford, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 80732 is May 14; after May 27 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Carpenter 3n station.

When is the first frost in Hereford, CO?

The median first fall frost near 80732 is September 26, giving a median frost-free growing season of 133 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 80732?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 19 – Apr 2 and set transplants outside around May 21 – Jun 4, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 80732 get?

About 15.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Carpenter 8.3 E station).

How hot do summers get in Hereford, CO?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 27 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 80732 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Altvan at the center of ZIP 80732: fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Hereford, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 80732 came on Mar 2 in 2026, 32 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 3), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Hereford, CO?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 80732 is 15 h 07 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).