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

Planting zone for 80826 — Limon, CO

ZIP code 80826 (Limon, Lincoln County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 21 and the first fall frost September 26.

Where ZIP 80826 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 21
First frostSep 26
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 Limon, 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 Limon, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 21median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 4only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 26median — 10% chance by Sep 14
Growing season127 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 9 and returns around October 3.

From the NOAA station Limon Wsmo, CO — 2 miles away, elevation 5,364 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 80826

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 30
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 30 – May 14
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
TomatoesTransplant · May 28 – Jun 11
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 4 – Jun 18
BeansSow outdoors · May 28 – Jun 11
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 28 – Jun 11
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 28 – Jun 11
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 21) 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 80826 came on Mar 5 — 26 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 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 Limon, CO.

Soil in Limon, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 80826 is Blakeland — loamy sand, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Blakeland loamy sand, 3 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 80826; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Limon, CO

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low10 °Faverage low, January
Hot days32days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights196nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,233base 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
Precipitation15 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 43 °F, low 10 °F 43°10° JanFebruary: average high 44 °F, low 13 °F 44°13° FebMarch: average high 54 °F, low 21 °F 54°21° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 28 °F 61°28° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 38 °F 70°38° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 48 °F 81°48° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 54 °F 87°54° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 53 °F 85°53° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 43 °F 77°43° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 29 °F 64°29° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 18 °F 52°18° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 10 °F 42°10° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 0.27 in precipitation 0.3 JanFebruary: 0.36 in precipitation 0.4 FebMarch: 0.80 in precipitation 0.8 MarApril: 1.37 in precipitation 1.4 AprMay: 2.21 in precipitation 2.2 MayJune: 2.20 in precipitation 2.2 JunJuly: 2.53 in precipitation 2.5 JulAugust: 2.72 in precipitation 2.7 AugSeptember: 0.96 in precipitation 1.0 SepOctober: 0.84 in precipitation 0.8 OctNovember: 0.40 in precipitation 0.4 NovDecember: 0.31 in precipitation 0.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Limon Wsmo, CO (2 mi away); precipitation: Limon Wsmo, CO (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

808285b
Limon, CO · 3 mi
808415b
Usaf Academy, CO · 11 mi
808305b
Matheson, CO · 14 mi
808355b
Simla, CO · 18 mi
808185b
Genoa, CO · 19 mi
801015b
Agate, CO · 19 mi
808215b
Hugo, CO · 20 mi
808325b
Ramah, CO · 23 mi

All 2 ZIP codes in Limon → · Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 80826

What planting zone is ZIP code 80826?

ZIP code 80826 (Limon, 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 Limon, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 80826 is May 21; after June 4 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Limon Wsmo station.

When is the first frost in Limon, CO?

The median first fall frost near 80826 is September 26, giving a median frost-free growing season of 127 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 80826?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 26 – Apr 9 and set transplants outside around May 28 – Jun 11, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 80826 get?

About 15 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Limon Wsmo station).

How hot do summers get in Limon, CO?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 32 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 80826 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Blakeland at the center of ZIP 80826: loamy sand, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Limon, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 80826 came on Mar 5 in 2026, 26 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Limon, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 80826 is 14 h 56 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.