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

Planting zone for 81140 — La Jara, CO

ZIP code 81140 (La Jara, Conejos County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is June 6 and the first fall frost September 15.

Where ZIP 81140 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 frostJun 6
First frostSep 15
2012 zone5a

Was 5a 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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for La Jara, 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 Jara, 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 81140

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 81140 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 La Jara, CO.

Soil in La Jara, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 81140 is Graypoint — gravelly sandy loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureGravelly sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.5slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter0.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classFarmland of unique importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Graypoint gravelly sandy 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 81140; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in La Jara, 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 (5 mi away). 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.

811245a
Capulin, CO · 3 mi
811205b
Antonito, CO · 13 mi
811485a
Romeo, CO · 13 mi
811295a
Conejos, CO · 15 mi
811415a
Manassa, CO · 18 mi
811445a
Monte Vista, CO · 18 mi
811354b
Homelake, CO · 19 mi
811014b
Alamosa, CO · 21 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 81140

What planting zone is ZIP code 81140?

ZIP code 81140 (La Jara, 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 La Jara, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 81140 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 La Jara, CO?

The median first fall frost near 81140 is September 15, giving a median frost-free growing season of 100 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 81140?

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 81140 get?

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

How hot do summers get in La Jara, 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 81140 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Graypoint at the center of ZIP 81140: gravelly sandy loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 7.5 (slightly alkaline).

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

Spring leaf-out near 81140 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 La Jara, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 81140 is 14 h 44 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 81140 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 81140 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.