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

Planting zone for 81135 — Homelake, CO

ZIP code 81135 (Homelake, Rio Grande County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is June 11 and the first fall frost September 13.

Where ZIP 81135 is

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.

Zone4b−25 to −20 °F
Coldest night−31.7 to −28.9 °C
Last frostJun 11
First frostSep 13
2012 zone5a

Was 5a on the 2012 map — half a zone colder now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 4b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Homelake, 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 Homelake, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostJune 11median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 25only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 13median — 10% chance by Sep 1
Growing season92 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 30 and returns around September 23.

From the NOAA station Monte Vista 2w, CO — 5 miles away, elevation 7,694 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 81135

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 21 – Jun 4
Onion setsPlant outdoors · May 14 – May 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
LettuceSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 18 – Jul 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 25 – Jul 9
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 18 – Jul 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 18 – Jul 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 18 – Jul 2
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 19 – Aug 2
GarlicPlant cloves · Aug 30 – Oct 4
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Jun 11) and first fall frost (Sep 13) 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 81135 came on Mar 23 — 23 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 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 4b in Colorado

484 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Colorado, and rated by the USDA to survive −25 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 4b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 26

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 78

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 °FBarclay's willow15 ft · high shade tolerance · to −43 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 221

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 147

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 Homelake, CO.

Soil in Homelake, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 81135 is Norte — gravelly sandy loam, moderately well drained.

TextureGravelly sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.9alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of unique importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Norte gravelly sandy loam.

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 81135; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Homelake, CO

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low−2 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights229nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,170base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 46 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 34 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation8.8 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 33 °F, low -2 °F 33°−2° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 5 °F 40°5° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 16 °F 52°16° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 22 °F 59°22° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 31 °F 67°31° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 38 °F 77°38° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 45 °F 80°45° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 43 °F 78°43° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 35 °F 73°35° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 23 °F 62°23° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 12 °F 48°12° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 0 °F 35°0° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″January: 0.39 in precipitation 0.4 JanFebruary: 0.29 in precipitation 0.3 FebMarch: 0.57 in precipitation 0.6 MarApril: 0.70 in precipitation 0.7 AprMay: 0.74 in precipitation 0.7 MayJune: 0.55 in precipitation 0.6 JunJuly: 1.63 in precipitation 1.6 JulAugust: 1.43 in precipitation 1.4 AugSeptember: 0.95 in precipitation 0.9 SepOctober: 0.79 in precipitation 0.8 OctNovember: 0.42 in precipitation 0.4 NovDecember: 0.39 in precipitation 0.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Monte Vista 2w, CO (5 mi away); precipitation: Monte Vista 2.4 E, CO (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

811445a
Monte Vista, CO · 3 mi
811014b
Alamosa, CO · 15 mi
811255a
Center, CO · 17 mi
811365a
Hooper, CO · 18 mi
811405b
La Jara, CO · 19 mi
811325b
Del Norte, CO · 20 mi
811245a
Capulin, CO · 20 mi
811465a
Mosca, CO · 24 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 81135

What planting zone is ZIP code 81135?

ZIP code 81135 (Homelake, CO) is in USDA hardiness zone 4b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −25 to −20 °F (−31.7 to −28.9 °C).

When is the last frost in Homelake, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 81135 is June 11; after June 25 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Monte Vista 2w station.

When is the first frost in Homelake, CO?

The median first fall frost near 81135 is September 13, giving a median frost-free growing season of 92 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 81135?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Apr 16 – Apr 30 and set transplants outside around Jun 18 – Jul 2, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 81135 get?

About 8.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Monte Vista 2.4 E station).

How hot do summers get in Homelake, CO?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 81135 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Norte at the center of ZIP 81135: gravelly sandy loam, moderately well drained, pH about 7.9 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Homelake, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 81135 came on Mar 23 in 2026, 23 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Homelake, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 81135 is 14 h 46 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 81135 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 81135 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 4b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.