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

Planting zone for 81132 — Del Norte, CO

ZIP code 81132 (Del Norte, Rio Grande County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 23 and the first fall frost September 25.

Where ZIP 81132 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostMay 23
First frostSep 25
2012 zone5b

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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Del Norte, 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 Del Norte, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 23median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 8only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 25median — 10% chance by Sep 13
Growing season123 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 9 and returns around October 4.

From the NOAA station Del Norte 3ene, CO — 6 miles away, elevation 7,845 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 81132

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 11 – May 2
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 2 – May 16
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 2 – May 16
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
TomatoesTransplant · May 30 – Jun 13
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 6 – Jun 20
BeansSow outdoors · May 30 – Jun 13
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 30 – Jun 13
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 30 – Jun 13
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 31 – Aug 14
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 11 – Oct 16
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 23) and first fall frost (Sep 25) 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 81132 came on Mar 23 — 28 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 20).

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 5b in Colorado

546 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Colorado, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. 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 98

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 246

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 163

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 Del Norte, CO.

Soil in Del Norte, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 81132 is Luhon — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH8.2alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Luhon loam, 1 to 3 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 81132; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Del Norte, CO

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low7 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights213nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,586base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 46 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 33 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation10.7 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 35 °F, low 7 °F 35°7° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 13 °F 40°13° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 21 °F 52°21° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 27 °F 59°27° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 36 °F 68°36° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 44 °F 78°44° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 50 °F 81°50° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 49 °F 79°49° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 40 °F 73°40° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 30 °F 63°30° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 18 °F 49°18° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 9 °F 36°9° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″January: 0.44 in precipitation 0.4 JanFebruary: 0.42 in precipitation 0.4 FebMarch: 0.80 in precipitation 0.8 MarApril: 0.77 in precipitation 0.8 AprMay: 0.76 in precipitation 0.8 MayJune: 0.68 in precipitation 0.7 JunJuly: 1.96 in precipitation 2.0 JulAugust: 1.82 in precipitation 1.8 AugSeptember: 1.14 in precipitation 1.1 SepOctober: 0.89 in precipitation 0.9 OctNovember: 0.46 in precipitation 0.5 NovDecember: 0.54 in precipitation 0.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Del Norte 3ene, CO (6 mi away); precipitation: Del Norte 0.25 Nw, CO (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

811545b
South Fork, CO · 15 mi
811445a
Monte Vista, CO · 19 mi
811354b
Homelake, CO · 20 mi
811255a
Center, CO · 20 mi
811495b
Saguache, CO · 27 mi
811405b
La Jara, CO · 32 mi
811365a
Hooper, CO · 33 mi
811245a
Capulin, CO · 34 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 81132

What planting zone is ZIP code 81132?

ZIP code 81132 (Del Norte, CO) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in Del Norte, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 81132 is May 23; after June 8 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Del Norte 3ene station.

When is the first frost in Del Norte, CO?

The median first fall frost near 81132 is September 25, giving a median frost-free growing season of 123 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 81132?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 28 – Apr 11 and set transplants outside around May 30 – Jun 13, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 81132 get?

About 10.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Del Norte 0.25 Nw station).

How hot do summers get in Del Norte, CO?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 81132 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Luhon at the center of ZIP 81132: loam, well drained, pH about 8.2 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Del Norte, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 81132 came on Mar 23 in 2026, 28 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 20), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Del Norte, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 81132 is 14 h 46 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.