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

Planting zone for 80861 — Vona, CO

ZIP code 80861 (Vona, Kit Carson County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 4 and the first fall frost October 11.

Where ZIP 80861 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 4
First frostOct 11
2012 zone5b

Was 5b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. 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 Vona, 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 Vona, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 4median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 17only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 11median — 10% chance by Sep 25
Growing season158 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 25 and returns around October 19.

From the NOAA station Seibert, CO — 6 miles away, elevation 4,705 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 80861

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 13
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
TomatoesTransplant · May 11 – May 25
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 18 – Jun 1
BeansSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 16 – Aug 30
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 27 – Nov 1
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 4) and first fall frost (Oct 11) 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 80861 came on Feb 27 — 24 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 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 Vona, CO.

Soil in Vona, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 80861 is Wages — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
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 classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Wages loam, 2 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 80861; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Vona, CO

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low15 °Faverage low, January
Hot days47days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights172nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,858base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 57 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
Precipitation16.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall30 inper year; 28 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 43 °F, low 15 °F 43°15° JanFebruary: average high 45 °F, low 16 °F 45°16° FebMarch: average high 55 °F, low 25 °F 55°25° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 32 °F 63°32° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 43 °F 71°43° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 53 °F 83°53° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 59 °F 89°59° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 58 °F 85°58° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 49 °F 78°49° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 37 °F 65°37° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 24 °F 52°24° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 16 °F 43°16° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 0.28 in precipitation, 3.8 in snowfall 0.3❄4 JanFebruary: 0.49 in precipitation, 4.2 in snowfall 0.5❄4 FebMarch: 1.01 in precipitation, 5.8 in snowfall 1.0❄6 MarApril: 1.44 in precipitation, 4.6 in snowfall 1.4❄5 AprMay: 2.69 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 2.7❄1 MayJune: 2.05 in precipitation 2.0 JunJuly: 2.64 in precipitation 2.6 JulAugust: 2.70 in precipitation 2.7 AugSeptember: 1.10 in precipitation 1.1 SepOctober: 1.22 in precipitation, 2.1 in snowfall 1.2❄2 OctNovember: 0.39 in precipitation, 2.4 in snowfall 0.4❄2 NovDecember: 0.60 in precipitation, 5.9 in snowfall 0.6❄6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Seibert, CO (6 mi away); precipitation: Seibert, CO (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

808345b
Seibert, CO · 6 mi
808366a
Stratton, CO · 10 mi
808056a
Bethune, CO · 18 mi
808155b
Flagler, CO · 18 mi
808125b
Cope, CO · 22 mi
808225b
Joes, CO · 25 mi
808045b
Arriba, CO · 26 mi
808245b
Kirk, CO · 28 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 80861

What planting zone is ZIP code 80861?

ZIP code 80861 (Vona, 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 Vona, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 80861 is May 4; after May 17 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Seibert station.

When is the first frost in Vona, CO?

The median first fall frost near 80861 is October 11, giving a median frost-free growing season of 158 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 80861?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 9 – Mar 23 and set transplants outside around May 11 – May 25, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 80861 get?

About 16.6 inches of precipitation a year and 30 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Seibert station).

How hot do summers get in Vona, CO?

The average high peaks at 89 °F in July, with about 47 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 80861 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Wages at the center of ZIP 80861: loam, well drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Vona, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 80861 came on Feb 27 in 2026, 24 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 23), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Vona, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 80861 is 14 h 57 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 80861 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 80861 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.