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

Planting zone for 81212 — Canon City, CO

ZIP code 81212 (Canon City, Fremont County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 19 and the first fall frost October 2.

Where ZIP 81212 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostMay 19
First frostOct 2
2012 zone6a

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 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Canon City, 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 Canon City, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 19median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 2median — 10% chance by Sep 19
Growing season134 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 10 and returns around October 9.

From the NOAA station Guffey 9se, CO — 10 miles away, elevation 8,914 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 81212

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 28
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 28 – May 12
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
TomatoesTransplant · May 26 – Jun 9
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 2 – Jun 16
BeansSow outdoors · May 26 – Jun 9
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 26 – Jun 9
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 26 – Jun 9
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 7 – Aug 21
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 18 – Oct 23
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 19) and first fall frost (Oct 2) 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 81212 came on Feb 26 — 29 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 27).

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 6a in Colorado

563 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Colorado, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 28

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 104

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 251

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 167

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 4

riverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Ftrumpet creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °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 Canon City, CO.

Soil in Canon City, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 81212 is Kim — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.9alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Kim loam, cool, 3 to 8 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 81212; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Canon City, CO

Summer high77 °Faverage high, July
Winter low16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights189nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,395base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 52 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 28 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation15.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall68 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 37 °F, low 16 °F 37°16° JanFebruary: average high 38 °F, low 16 °F 38°16° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 23 °F 47°23° MarApril: average high 53 °F, low 28 °F 53°28° AprMay: average high 63 °F, low 36 °F 63°36° MayJune: average high 73 °F, low 47 °F 73°47° JunJuly: average high 77 °F, low 50 °F 77°50° JulAugust: average high 74 °F, low 49 °F 74°49° AugSeptember: average high 67 °F, low 44 °F 67°44° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 32 °F 58°32° OctNovember: average high 45 °F, low 24 °F 45°24° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 16 °F 36°16° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.37 in precipitation, 6.4 in snowfall 0.4❄6 JanFebruary: 0.32 in precipitation, 6.9 in snowfall 0.3❄7 FebMarch: 0.98 in precipitation, 14.8 in snowfall 1.0❄15 MarApril: 1.39 in precipitation, 14.4 in snowfall 1.4❄14 AprMay: 1.85 in precipitation, 3.3 in snowfall 1.9❄3 MayJune: 1.59 in precipitation 1.6 JunJuly: 2.70 in precipitation 2.7 JulAugust: 3.06 in precipitation 3.1 AugSeptember: 1.41 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 1.4❄1 SepOctober: 0.86 in precipitation, 5.7 in snowfall 0.9❄6 OctNovember: 0.56 in precipitation, 10 in snowfall 0.6❄10 NovDecember: 0.40 in precipitation, 5.9 in snowfall 0.4❄6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Guffey 9se, CO (10 mi away); precipitation: Guffey 10 Se, CO (9 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.

812156a
Canon City, CO · 5 mi
812235b
Cotopaxi, CO · 16 mi
808205b
Guffey, CO · 18 mi
812446a
Rockvale, CO · 19 mi
812906a
Florence, CO · 20 mi
812216a
Coal Creek, CO · 20 mi
808605b
Victor, CO · 21 mi
812325b
Hillside, CO · 21 mi

All 2 ZIP codes in Canon City → · Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 81212

What planting zone is ZIP code 81212?

ZIP code 81212 (Canon City, CO) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Canon City, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 81212 is May 19; after May 31 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Guffey 9se station.

When is the first frost in Canon City, CO?

The median first fall frost near 81212 is October 2, giving a median frost-free growing season of 134 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 81212?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 24 – Apr 7 and set transplants outside around May 26 – Jun 9, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 81212 get?

About 15.5 inches of precipitation a year and 68 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Guffey 10 Se station).

How hot do summers get in Canon City, CO?

The average high peaks at 77 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 81212 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Kim at the center of ZIP 81212: loam, well drained, pH about 7.9 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Canon City, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 81212 came on Feb 26 in 2026, 29 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 27), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Canon City, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 81212 is 14 h 52 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.