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

Planting zone for 80831 — Peyton, CO

ZIP code 80831 (Peyton, El Paso County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 29 and the first fall frost September 21.

Where ZIP 80831 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 29
First frostSep 21
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 Peyton, 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 Peyton, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 29median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 21median — 10% chance by Sep 9
Growing season114 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 14 and returns around September 29.

From the NOAA station Eastonville 2 Nnw, CO — 11 miles away, elevation 7,212 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 80831

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 8 – May 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · May 1 – May 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 8 – May 22
LettuceSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 5 – Jun 19
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 12 – Jun 26
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 5 – Jun 19
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 5 – Jun 19
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 5 – Jun 19
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 27 – Aug 10
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 7 – Oct 12
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 29) and first fall frost (Sep 21) 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 80831 came on Mar 4 — 32 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5).

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 Peyton, CO.

Soil in Peyton, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 80831 is Columbine — gravelly sandy loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Columbine gravelly sandy loam, 0 to 3 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 80831; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Peyton, CO

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low9 °Faverage low, January
Hot days5days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights212nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,526base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 54 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
Precipitation21.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall102 inper year; 86 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 41 °F, low 9 °F 41°9° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 13 °F 42°13° FebMarch: average high 50 °F, low 21 °F 50°21° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 27 °F 56°27° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 35 °F 66°35° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 44 °F 76°44° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 49 °F 81°49° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 48 °F 79°48° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 39 °F 72°39° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 27 °F 60°27° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 17 °F 50°17° NovDecember: average high 40 °F, low 9 °F 40°9° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.63 in precipitation, 11.5 in snowfall 0.6❄12 JanFebruary: 0.64 in precipitation, 9.9 in snowfall 0.6❄10 FebMarch: 1.50 in precipitation, 19 in snowfall 1.5❄19 MarApril: 2.39 in precipitation, 22.2 in snowfall 2.4❄22 AprMay: 2.72 in precipitation, 6.7 in snowfall 2.7❄7 MayJune: 2.26 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 2.3❄1 JunJuly: 3.88 in precipitation 3.9 JulAugust: 3.48 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 1.43 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 1.4❄1 SepOctober: 1.24 in precipitation, 8.1 in snowfall 1.2❄8 OctNovember: 0.85 in precipitation, 10.9 in snowfall 0.8❄11 NovDecember: 0.61 in precipitation, 11.3 in snowfall 0.6❄11 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Eastonville 2 Nnw, CO (11 mi away); precipitation: Eastonville 2 Nnw, CO (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

809275b
Colorado Springs, CO · 9 mi
809386a
Colorado Springs, CO · 10 mi
808085b
Calhan, CO · 11 mi
809516a
Colorado Springs, CO · 11 mi
809085b
Colorado Springs, CO · 11 mi
809245b
Colorado Springs, CO · 12 mi
809396a
Colorado Springs, CO · 12 mi
809236a
Colorado Springs, CO · 12 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 80831

What planting zone is ZIP code 80831?

ZIP code 80831 (Peyton, 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 Peyton, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 80831 is May 29; after June 13 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Eastonville 2 Nnw station.

When is the first frost in Peyton, CO?

The median first fall frost near 80831 is September 21, giving a median frost-free growing season of 114 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 80831?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Apr 3 – Apr 17 and set transplants outside around Jun 5 – Jun 19, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 80831 get?

About 21.6 inches of precipitation a year and 102 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Eastonville 2 Nnw station).

How hot do summers get in Peyton, CO?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 5 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 80831 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Columbine at the center of ZIP 80831: gravelly sandy loam, well drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Peyton, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 80831 came on Mar 4 in 2026, 32 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Peyton, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 80831 is 14 h 54 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.