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

Planting zone for 80805 — Bethune, CO

ZIP code 80805 (Bethune, Kit Carson County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 6 and the first fall frost October 9.

Where ZIP 80805 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostMay 6
First frostOct 9
2012 zone6a

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 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Bethune, 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 Bethune, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 17only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 9median — 10% chance by Sep 26
Growing season155 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 27 and returns around October 19.

From the NOAA station Stratton, CO — 9 miles away, elevation 4,400 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 80805

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesTransplant · May 13 – May 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
BeansSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 14 – Aug 28
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 25 – Oct 30
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (Oct 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 80805 came on Feb 27 — 23 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 22).

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 6a in Colorado

563 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Colorado, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 28

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 104

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 251

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 167

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 4

riverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Ftrumpet creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °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 Bethune, CO.

Soil in Bethune, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 80805 is Stoneham — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Stoneham-Kimst-Fort Collins loams, 5 to 15 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 80805; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bethune, CO

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low18 °Faverage low, January
Hot days46days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights157nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,146base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 56 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 24 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation18.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall34 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 43 °F, low 18 °F 43°18° JanFebruary: average high 46 °F, low 20 °F 46°20° FebMarch: average high 56 °F, low 27 °F 56°27° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 34 °F 63°34° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 45 °F 73°45° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 55 °F 84°55° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 61 °F 90°61° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 59 °F 88°59° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 50 °F 80°50° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 37 °F 67°37° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 26 °F 53°26° NovDecember: average high 44 °F, low 19 °F 44°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.41 in precipitation, 4.1 in snowfall 0.4❄4 JanFebruary: 0.58 in precipitation, 5.2 in snowfall 0.6❄5 FebMarch: 0.81 in precipitation, 6 in snowfall 0.8❄6 MarApril: 2.24 in precipitation, 5.6 in snowfall 2.2❄6 AprMay: 2.72 in precipitation 2.7 MayJune: 2.68 in precipitation 2.7 JunJuly: 3.34 in precipitation 3.3 JulAugust: 2.87 in precipitation 2.9 AugSeptember: 0.93 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 0.9 SepOctober: 1.18 in precipitation, 2.7 in snowfall 1.2❄3 OctNovember: 0.62 in precipitation, 6.1 in snowfall 0.6❄6 NovDecember: 0.43 in precipitation, 3.8 in snowfall 0.4❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Stratton, CO (9 mi away); precipitation: Stratton, CO (9 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.

808366a
Stratton, CO · 8 mi
808076a
Burlington, CO · 12 mi
808616a
Vona, CO · 18 mi
808345b
Seibert, CO · 24 mi
677416a
Kanorado, KS · 24 mi
808245b
Kirk, CO · 26 mi
808225b
Joes, CO · 29 mi
807356a
Idalia, CO · 30 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 80805

What planting zone is ZIP code 80805?

ZIP code 80805 (Bethune, CO) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Bethune, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 80805 is May 6; after May 17 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Stratton station.

When is the first frost in Bethune, CO?

The median first fall frost near 80805 is October 9, giving a median frost-free growing season of 155 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 80805?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 11 – Mar 25 and set transplants outside around May 13 – May 27, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 80805 get?

About 18.8 inches of precipitation a year and 34 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Stratton station).

How hot do summers get in Bethune, CO?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 46 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 80805 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Stoneham at the center of ZIP 80805: loam, well drained, pH about 7.2 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Bethune, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 80805 came on Feb 27 in 2026, 23 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 22), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Bethune, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 80805 is 14 h 56 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.