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

Planting zone for 81149 — Saguache, CO

ZIP code 81149 (Saguache, Saguache County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 16 and the first fall frost September 28.

Where ZIP 81149 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 16
First frostSep 28
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 Saguache, 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 Saguache, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 16median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 28median — 10% chance by Sep 18
Growing season135 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 4 and returns around October 8.

From the NOAA station Saguache, CO — 11 miles away, elevation 7,701 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 81149

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 25
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
TomatoesTransplant · May 23 – Jun 6
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 30 – Jun 13
BeansSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 3 – Aug 17
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 14 – Oct 19
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 16) and first fall frost (Sep 28) 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 81149 came on Apr 2 — 26 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 28).

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 Saguache, CO.

Soil in Saguache, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 81149 is Rogert — gravelly sandy loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.6slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Rogert-Rock outcrop complex, 5 to 25 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 81149; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Saguache, CO

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low7 °Faverage low, January
Hot days5days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights205nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,578base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 49 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 31 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation8.4 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 36 °F, low 7 °F 36°7° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 11 °F 41°11° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 22 °F 51°22° 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 80 °F, low 50 °F 80°50° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 49 °F 79°49° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 40 °F 73°40° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 30 °F 62°30° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 20 °F 49°20° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 8 °F 36°8° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″January: 0.20 in precipitation 0.2 JanFebruary: 0.26 in precipitation 0.3 FebMarch: 0.39 in precipitation 0.4 MarApril: 0.70 in precipitation 0.7 AprMay: 0.53 in precipitation 0.5 MayJune: 0.62 in precipitation 0.6 JunJuly: 1.29 in precipitation 1.3 JulAugust: 1.86 in precipitation 1.9 AugSeptember: 0.99 in precipitation 1.0 SepOctober: 0.66 in precipitation 0.7 OctNovember: 0.58 in precipitation 0.6 NovDecember: 0.31 in precipitation 0.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Saguache, CO (11 mi away); precipitation: Saguache, CO (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

811555b
Villa Grove, CO · 20 mi
812485b
Sargents, CO · 24 mi
811255a
Center, CO · 25 mi
811325b
Del Norte, CO · 27 mi
811435b
Moffat, CO · 27 mi
812426a
Poncha Springs, CO · 30 mi
812275b
Monarch, CO · 31 mi
812394b
Parlin, CO · 33 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 81149

What planting zone is ZIP code 81149?

ZIP code 81149 (Saguache, 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 Saguache, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 81149 is May 16; after May 31 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Saguache station.

When is the first frost in Saguache, CO?

The median first fall frost near 81149 is September 28, giving a median frost-free growing season of 135 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 81149?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 21 – Apr 4 and set transplants outside around May 23 – Jun 6, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 81149 get?

About 8.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Saguache station).

How hot do summers get in Saguache, CO?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 5 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 81149 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Rogert at the center of ZIP 81149: gravelly sandy loam, well drained, pH about 7.6 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Saguache, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 81149 came on Apr 2 in 2026, 26 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 28), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Saguache, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 81149 is 14 h 49 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 81149 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 81149 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.