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

Planting zone for 81124 — Capulin, CO

ZIP code 81124 (Capulin, Conejos County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is June 6 and the first fall frost September 15.

Where ZIP 81124 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.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
Coldest night−28.9 to −26.1 °C
Last frostJun 6
First frostSep 15
2012 zone5a

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 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Capulin, 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 Capulin, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostJune 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 22only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 15median — 10% chance by Sep 3
Growing season100 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 24 and returns around September 25.

From the NOAA station Waverly 1w, CO — 11 miles away, elevation 7,602 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 81124

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 16
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 16 – May 30
Onion setsPlant outdoors · May 9 – May 23
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 16 – May 30
LettuceSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 13 – Jun 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 20 – Jul 4
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 13 – Jun 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 13 – Jun 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 13 – Jun 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 21 – Aug 4
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 1 – Oct 6
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Jun 6) and first fall frost (Sep 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 81124 came on Mar 23 — 26 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 18).

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 5a in Colorado

532 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Colorado, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 27

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 95

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 239

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 159

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 3

riverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °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 Capulin, CO.

Soil in Capulin, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 81124 is Quamon — gravelly sandy loam, moderately well drained.

TextureGravelly sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH8.2alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Quamon-LaJara complex.

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 81124; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Capulin, CO

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low−3 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights230nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,195base 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
Precipitation9.9 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 34 °F, low -3 °F 34°−3° JanFebruary: average high 39 °F, low 4 °F 39°4° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 15 °F 51°15° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 23 °F 59°23° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 32 °F 67°32° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 40 °F 77°40° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 46 °F 79°46° JulAugust: average high 77 °F, low 44 °F 77°44° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 36 °F 72°36° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 24 °F 62°24° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 11 °F 48°11° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low -1 °F 35°−1° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 0.40 in precipitation 0.4 JanFebruary: 0.36 in precipitation 0.4 FebMarch: 0.59 in precipitation 0.6 MarApril: 0.58 in precipitation 0.6 AprMay: 0.87 in precipitation 0.9 MayJune: 0.59 in precipitation 0.6 JunJuly: 1.69 in precipitation 1.7 JulAugust: 2.15 in precipitation 2.1 AugSeptember: 1.08 in precipitation 1.1 SepOctober: 0.72 in precipitation 0.7 OctNovember: 0.39 in precipitation 0.4 NovDecember: 0.50 in precipitation 0.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Waverly 1w, CO (11 mi away); precipitation: Capulin 2.9 Ene, CO (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

811405b
La Jara, CO · 3 mi
811485a
Romeo, CO · 10 mi
811295a
Conejos, CO · 13 mi
811415a
Manassa, CO · 15 mi
811205b
Antonito, CO · 15 mi
811445a
Monte Vista, CO · 19 mi
811014b
Alamosa, CO · 19 mi
811354b
Homelake, CO · 20 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 81124

What planting zone is ZIP code 81124?

ZIP code 81124 (Capulin, CO) is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −20 to −15 °F (−28.9 to −26.1 °C).

When is the last frost in Capulin, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 81124 is June 6; after June 22 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Waverly 1w station.

When is the first frost in Capulin, CO?

The median first fall frost near 81124 is September 15, giving a median frost-free growing season of 100 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 81124?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Apr 11 – Apr 25 and set transplants outside around Jun 13 – Jun 27, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 81124 get?

About 9.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Capulin 2.9 Ene station).

How hot do summers get in Capulin, CO?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 81124 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Quamon at the center of ZIP 81124: gravelly sandy loam, moderately well drained, pH about 8.2 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Capulin, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 81124 came on Mar 23 in 2026, 26 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 18), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Capulin, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 81124 is 14 h 44 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.