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

Planting zone for 81082 — Trinidad, CO

ZIP code 81082 (Trinidad, Las Animas County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost October 15.

Where ZIP 81082 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 30
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 Trinidad, 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 Trinidad, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 15median — 10% chance by Oct 1
Growing season167 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 19 and returns around October 24.

From the NOAA station Trinidad, CO — 4 miles away, elevation 6,030 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 81082

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesTransplant · May 7 – May 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 14 – May 28
BeansSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
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 30) 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 81082 came on Feb 26 — 21 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 19).

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 Trinidad, CO.

Soil in Trinidad, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 81082 is Baca — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama 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 groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Baca silt loam, 3 to 5 percent slopes, cool.

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 81082; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Trinidad, CO

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days37days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights146nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,322base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 43 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 36 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation14.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall55 inper year; 25 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 50 °F, low 22 °F 50°22° JanFebruary: average high 52 °F, low 24 °F 52°24° FebMarch: average high 59 °F, low 32 °F 59°32° MarApril: average high 66 °F, low 38 °F 66°38° AprMay: average high 75 °F, low 47 °F 75°47° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 56 °F 85°56° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 61 °F 88°61° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 59 °F 86°59° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 52 °F 80°52° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 40 °F 69°40° OctNovember: average high 57 °F, low 30 °F 57°30° NovDecember: average high 49 °F, low 22 °F 49°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 0.54 in precipitation, 7.7 in snowfall 0.5❄8 JanFebruary: 0.47 in precipitation, 7.3 in snowfall 0.5❄7 FebMarch: 1.07 in precipitation, 9.5 in snowfall 1.1❄10 MarApril: 1.40 in precipitation, 7.8 in snowfall 1.4❄8 AprMay: 1.52 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 1.5❄1 MayJune: 1.27 in precipitation 1.3 JunJuly: 2.63 in precipitation 2.6 JulAugust: 2.29 in precipitation 2.3 AugSeptember: 1.27 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.3 SepOctober: 1.23 in precipitation, 4.8 in snowfall 1.2❄5 OctNovember: 0.64 in precipitation, 8.3 in snowfall 0.6❄8 NovDecember: 0.54 in precipitation, 9.1 in snowfall 0.5❄9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Trinidad, CO (4 mi away); precipitation: Trinidad, CO (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

810466a
Hoehne, CO · 8 mi
810816a
Trinchera, CO · 16 mi
810246a
Boncarbo, CO · 17 mi
810206a
Aguilar, CO · 22 mi
877406a
Raton, NM · 29 mi
810916a
Weston, CO · 30 mi
810896a
Walsenburg, CO · 34 mi
810596a
Model, CO · 35 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 81082

What planting zone is ZIP code 81082?

ZIP code 81082 (Trinidad, 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 Trinidad, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 81082 is April 30; after May 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Trinidad station.

When is the first frost in Trinidad, CO?

The median first fall frost near 81082 is October 15, giving a median frost-free growing season of 167 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 81082?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 5 – Mar 19 and set transplants outside around May 7 – May 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 81082 get?

About 14.9 inches of precipitation a year and 55 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Trinidad station).

How hot do summers get in Trinidad, CO?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 37 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 81082 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Baca at the center of ZIP 81082: silt loam, well drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Trinidad, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 81082 came on Feb 26 in 2026, 21 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 19), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Trinidad, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 81082 is 14 h 43 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.