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

Planting zone for 81050 — La Junta, CO

ZIP code 81050 (La Junta, Otero County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 27 and the first fall frost October 14.

Where ZIP 81050 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 frostApr 27
First frostOct 14
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 La Junta, 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 La Junta, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 27median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 14median — 10% chance by Oct 2
Growing season168 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 15 and returns around October 23.

From the NOAA station La Junta 20 S, CO — 7 miles away, elevation 4,210 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 81050

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Apr 6
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
TomatoesTransplant · May 4 – May 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 11 – May 25
BeansSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 19 – Sep 2
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 30 – Nov 4
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 27) and first fall frost (Oct 14) 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 81050 came on Feb 21 — 20 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 13).

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 La Junta, CO.

Soil in La Junta, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 81050 is Penrose — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH8.2alkaline; 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: Penrose-Midway-Rock outcrop complex, 10 to 45 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 81050; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in La Junta, CO

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July
Winter low17 °Faverage low, January
Hot days80days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights146nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,707base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 47 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
Precipitation14.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall26 inper year; 18 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 47 °F, low 17 °F 47°17° JanFebruary: average high 50 °F, low 20 °F 50°20° FebMarch: average high 60 °F, low 29 °F 60°29° MarApril: average high 67 °F, low 37 °F 67°37° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 47 °F 77°47° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 58 °F 89°58° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 63 °F 93°63° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 61 °F 90°61° AugSeptember: average high 83 °F, low 52 °F 83°52° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 37 °F 71°37° OctNovember: average high 57 °F, low 27 °F 57°27° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 18 °F 47°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 0.47 in precipitation, 4.6 in snowfall 0.5❄5 JanFebruary: 0.39 in precipitation, 4.2 in snowfall 0.4❄4 FebMarch: 1.03 in precipitation, 4.1 in snowfall 1.0❄4 MarApril: 1.63 in precipitation, 2.2 in snowfall 1.6❄2 AprMay: 1.79 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.8 MayJune: 1.78 in precipitation 1.8 JunJuly: 2.39 in precipitation 2.4 JulAugust: 2.13 in precipitation 2.1 AugSeptember: 0.86 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 0.9 SepOctober: 1.09 in precipitation, 1.8 in snowfall 1.1❄2 OctNovember: 0.60 in precipitation, 2.9 in snowfall 0.6❄3 NovDecember: 0.60 in precipitation, 5.8 in snowfall 0.6❄6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: La Junta 20 S, CO (7 mi away); precipitation: La Junta 20 S, CO (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

810776a
Swink, CO · 14 mi
810546a
Las Animas, CO · 16 mi
810306a
Cheraw, CO · 17 mi
810676a
Rocky Ford, CO · 18 mi
810386a
Fort Lyon, CO · 23 mi
810586a
Manzanola, CO · 29 mi
810446a
Hasty, CO · 29 mi
810345b
Crowley, CO · 31 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 81050

What planting zone is ZIP code 81050?

ZIP code 81050 (La Junta, 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 La Junta, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 81050 is April 27; after May 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, La Junta 20 S station.

When is the first frost in La Junta, CO?

The median first fall frost near 81050 is October 14, giving a median frost-free growing season of 168 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 81050?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 2 – Mar 16 and set transplants outside around May 4 – May 18, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 81050 get?

About 14.8 inches of precipitation a year and 26 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, La Junta 20 S station).

How hot do summers get in La Junta, CO?

The average high peaks at 93 °F in July, with about 80 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 81050 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Penrose at the center of ZIP 81050: loam, well drained, pH about 8.2 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in La Junta, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 81050 came on Feb 21 in 2026, 20 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 13), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in La Junta, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 81050 is 14 h 47 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 81050 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 81050 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.