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

Planting zone for 81038 — Fort Lyon, CO

ZIP code 81038 (Fort Lyon, Bent County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 24 and the first fall frost October 15.

Where ZIP 81038 is

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 frostApr 24
First frostOct 15
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 Fort Lyon, 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 Fort Lyon, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 24median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 8only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 15median — 10% chance by Oct 2
Growing season172 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 11 and returns around October 23.

From the NOAA station John Martin Dam, CO — 11 miles away, elevation 3,816 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 81038

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Apr 3
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
TomatoesTransplant · May 1 – May 15
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 8 – May 22
BeansSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 20 – Sep 3
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 1 – Nov 5
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 24) and first fall frost (Oct 15) 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 81038 came on Feb 21 — 21 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 14).

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 Fort Lyon, CO.

Soil in Fort Lyon, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 81038 is Travessilla — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.8slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Travessilla-Olney sandy loam, 1 to 9 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 81038; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Fort Lyon, CO

Summer high95 °Faverage high, July
Winter low16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days83days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights153nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,963base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 48 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 32 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation13.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall10 inper year; 5 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 46 °F, low 16 °F 46°16° JanFebruary: average high 50 °F, low 20 °F 50°20° FebMarch: average high 61 °F, low 29 °F 61°29° MarApril: average high 69 °F, low 38 °F 69°38° AprMay: average high 79 °F, low 48 °F 79°48° MayJune: average high 90 °F, low 59 °F 90°59° JunJuly: average high 95 °F, low 64 °F 95°64° JulAugust: average high 92 °F, low 62 °F 92°62° AugSeptember: average high 85 °F, low 53 °F 85°53° SepOctober: average high 72 °F, low 38 °F 72°38° OctNovember: average high 58 °F, low 27 °F 58°27° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 18 °F 47°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 0.24 in precipitation, 1.7 in snowfall 0.2❄2 JanFebruary: 0.28 in precipitation, 2.4 in snowfall 0.3❄2 FebMarch: 0.71 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 0.7❄1 MarApril: 1.23 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 1.2 AprMay: 1.62 in precipitation 1.6 MayJune: 1.92 in precipitation 1.9 JunJuly: 2.35 in precipitation 2.4 JulAugust: 2.05 in precipitation 2.0 AugSeptember: 1.02 in precipitation 1.0 SepOctober: 0.98 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 1.0 OctNovember: 0.39 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 0.4❄1 NovDecember: 0.36 in precipitation, 2.9 in snowfall 0.4❄3 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

810546a
Las Animas, CO · 7 mi
810446a
Hasty, CO · 9 mi
810576a
Mc Clave, CO · 15 mi
810926a
Wiley, CO · 20 mi
810506a
La Junta, CO · 23 mi
810526a
Lamar, CO · 24 mi
810306a
Cheraw, CO · 26 mi
810776a
Swink, CO · 30 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 81038

What planting zone is ZIP code 81038?

ZIP code 81038 (Fort Lyon, 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 Fort Lyon, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 81038 is April 24; after May 8 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, John Martin Dam station.

When is the first frost in Fort Lyon, CO?

The median first fall frost near 81038 is October 15, giving a median frost-free growing season of 172 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 81038?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 27 – Mar 13 and set transplants outside around May 1 – May 15, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 81038 get?

About 13.2 inches of precipitation a year and 10 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, John Martin Dam station).

How hot do summers get in Fort Lyon, CO?

The average high peaks at 95 °F in July, with about 83 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 81038 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Travessilla at the center of ZIP 81038: sandy loam, well drained, pH about 7.8 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Fort Lyon, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 81038 came on Feb 21 in 2026, 21 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 14), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Fort Lyon, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 81038 is 14 h 48 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.