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

Planting zone for 80825 — Kit Carson, CO

ZIP code 80825 (Kit Carson, Cheyenne County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 10 and the first fall frost October 1.

Where ZIP 80825 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 10
First frostOct 1
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 Kit Carson, 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 Kit Carson, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 10median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 24only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 1median — 10% chance by Sep 20
Growing season142 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 2 and returns around October 9.

From the NOAA station Kit Carson, CO — 5 miles away, elevation 4,301 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 80825

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 19 – May 3
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
TomatoesTransplant · May 17 – May 31
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 24 – Jun 7
BeansSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 6 – Aug 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 17 – Oct 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 10) and first fall frost (Oct 1) 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 80825 came on Mar 1 — 22 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 23).

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 Kit Carson, CO.

Soil in Kit Carson, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 80825 is Valent — loamy sand, excessively drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.4slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Valent-Bijou loamy sands, 1 to 12 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 80825; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Kit Carson, CO

Summer high92 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days62days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights178nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,151base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 53 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 26 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation15.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall16 inper year; 15 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 45 °F, low 12 °F 45°12° JanFebruary: average high 48 °F, low 14 °F 48°14° FebMarch: average high 58 °F, low 24 °F 58°24° MarApril: average high 66 °F, low 32 °F 66°32° AprMay: average high 75 °F, low 43 °F 75°43° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 54 °F 87°54° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 59 °F 92°59° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 58 °F 89°58° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 47 °F 82°47° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 33 °F 69°33° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 21 °F 55°21° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 13 °F 45°13° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 0.26 in precipitation, 2.4 in snowfall 0.3❄2 JanFebruary: 0.35 in precipitation, 3 in snowfall 0.3❄3 FebMarch: 0.65 in precipitation, 3 in snowfall 0.7❄3 MarApril: 1.32 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 1.3❄1 AprMay: 2.24 in precipitation 2.2 MayJune: 2.25 in precipitation 2.3 JunJuly: 2.65 in precipitation 2.6 JulAugust: 2.71 in precipitation 2.7 AugSeptember: 0.90 in precipitation 0.9 SepOctober: 1.25 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 1.3 OctNovember: 0.42 in precipitation, 2.4 in snowfall 0.4❄2 NovDecember: 0.42 in precipitation, 4 in snowfall 0.4❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Kit Carson, CO (5 mi away); precipitation: Kit Carson, CO (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

808626a
Wild Horse, CO · 14 mi
808106a
Cheyenne Wells, CO · 21 mi
810455b
Haswell, CO · 26 mi
810366a
Eads, CO · 29 mi
808345b
Seibert, CO · 32 mi
808235b
Karval, CO · 34 mi
808616a
Vona, CO · 34 mi
808366a
Stratton, CO · 35 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 80825

What planting zone is ZIP code 80825?

ZIP code 80825 (Kit Carson, 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 Kit Carson, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 80825 is May 10; after May 24 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Kit Carson station.

When is the first frost in Kit Carson, CO?

The median first fall frost near 80825 is October 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 142 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 80825?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 15 – Mar 29 and set transplants outside around May 17 – May 31, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 80825 get?

About 15.4 inches of precipitation a year and 16 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Kit Carson station).

How hot do summers get in Kit Carson, CO?

The average high peaks at 92 °F in July, with about 62 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 80825 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Valent at the center of ZIP 80825: loamy sand, excessively drained, pH about 7.4 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Kit Carson, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 80825 came on Mar 1 in 2026, 22 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 23), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Kit Carson, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 80825 is 14 h 53 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.