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

Planting zone for 81046 — Hoehne, CO

ZIP code 81046 (Hoehne, Las Animas 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 9.

Where ZIP 81046 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 9
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 Hoehne, 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 Hoehne, 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 19only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 9median — 10% chance by Sep 28
Growing season156 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 23 and returns around October 18.

From the NOAA station Trinidad Perry Stokes Airport, CO — 3 miles away, elevation 5,742 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 81046

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 14 – Aug 28
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 25 – Oct 30
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 4) and first fall frost (Oct 9) 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 81046 came on Feb 22 — 21 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 15).

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 Hoehne, CO.

Soil in Hoehne, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 81046 is Bloom — silty clay loam, poorly drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH8.2alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Bloom silty clay loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes, occasionally flooded.

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 81046; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Hoehne, CO

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low18 °Faverage low, December
Hot days50days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights154nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,246base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 44 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 35 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation12.7 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 48 °F, low 19 °F 48°19° JanFebruary: average high 51 °F, low 21 °F 51°21° FebMarch: average high 60 °F, low 28 °F 60°28° MarApril: average high 66 °F, low 35 °F 66°35° AprMay: average high 76 °F, low 44 °F 76°44° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 54 °F 86°54° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 60 °F 90°60° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 58 °F 88°58° AugSeptember: average high 81 °F, low 51 °F 81°51° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 37 °F 69°37° OctNovember: average high 57 °F, low 26 °F 57°26° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 18 °F 47°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 0.38 in precipitation 0.4 JanFebruary: 0.38 in precipitation 0.4 FebMarch: 0.81 in precipitation 0.8 MarApril: 1.28 in precipitation 1.3 AprMay: 1.48 in precipitation 1.5 MayJune: 1.19 in precipitation 1.2 JunJuly: 2.13 in precipitation 2.1 JulAugust: 1.92 in precipitation 1.9 AugSeptember: 1.10 in precipitation 1.1 SepOctober: 0.96 in precipitation 1.0 OctNovember: 0.59 in precipitation 0.6 NovDecember: 0.43 in precipitation 0.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Trinidad Perry Stokes Airport, CO (3 mi away); precipitation: Trinidad Perry Stokes Airport, CO (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

810826a
Trinidad, CO · 8 mi
810206a
Aguilar, CO · 18 mi
810246a
Boncarbo, CO · 19 mi
810816a
Trinchera, CO · 20 mi
810596a
Model, CO · 27 mi
810896a
Walsenburg, CO · 29 mi
810916a
Weston, CO · 34 mi
877406a
Raton, NM · 37 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 81046

What planting zone is ZIP code 81046?

ZIP code 81046 (Hoehne, 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 Hoehne, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 81046 is May 4; after May 19 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Trinidad Perry Stokes Airport station.

When is the first frost in Hoehne, CO?

The median first fall frost near 81046 is October 9, giving a median frost-free growing season of 156 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 81046?

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 81046 get?

About 12.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Trinidad Perry Stokes Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Hoehne, CO?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 50 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 81046 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Bloom at the center of ZIP 81046: silty clay loam, poorly drained, pH about 8.2 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Hoehne, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 81046 came on Feb 22 in 2026, 21 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 15), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Hoehne, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 81046 is 14 h 44 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.