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

Planting zone for 81327 — Lewis, CO

ZIP code 81327 (Lewis, Montezuma County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost October 8.

Where ZIP 81327 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostMay 15
First frostOct 8
2012 zone6a

Was 6a 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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Lewis, 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 Lewis, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 8median — 10% chance by Sep 26
Growing season147 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 2 and returns around October 19.

From the NOAA station Yellow Jacket 4ne, CO — 3 miles away, elevation 7,090 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 81327

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
TomatoesTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 29 – Jun 12
BeansSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 13 – Aug 27
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 24 – Oct 29
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 15) and first fall frost (Oct 8) 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 81327 came on Mar 19 — 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 4).

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 6b in Colorado

565 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Colorado, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. 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 252

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 168

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 Lewis, CO.

Soil in Lewis, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 81327 is Wetherill — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.4slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Wetherill loam, 3 to 6 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 81327; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lewis, CO

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low17 °Faverage low, January
Hot days14days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights160nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,344base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 45 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
Precipitation15 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 40 °F, low 17 °F 40°17° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 19 °F 42°19° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 27 °F 51°27° MarApril: average high 60 °F, low 33 °F 60°33° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 40 °F 69°40° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 50 °F 81°50° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 55 °F 86°55° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 55 °F 83°55° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 47 °F 75°47° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 36 °F 63°36° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 26 °F 51°26° NovDecember: average high 40 °F, low 18 °F 40°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″January: 1.21 in precipitation 1.2 JanFebruary: 1.41 in precipitation 1.4 FebMarch: 1.07 in precipitation 1.1 MarApril: 0.94 in precipitation 0.9 AprMay: 1.19 in precipitation 1.2 MayJune: 0.37 in precipitation 0.4 JunJuly: 1.78 in precipitation 1.8 JulAugust: 1.82 in precipitation 1.8 AugSeptember: 1.40 in precipitation 1.4 SepOctober: 1.48 in precipitation 1.5 OctNovember: 1.06 in precipitation 1.1 NovDecember: 1.30 in precipitation 1.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Yellow Jacket 4ne, CO (3 mi away); precipitation: Yellow Jacket 2w, CO (6 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.

813356b
Yellow Jacket, CO · 4 mi
813316b
Pleasant View, CO · 15 mi
813206b
Cahone, CO · 15 mi
813217a
Cortez, CO · 15 mi
813246b
Dove Creek, CO · 21 mi
813307a
Mesa Verde National Park, CO · 22 mi
813286a
Mancos, CO · 25 mi
813347a
Towaoc, CO · 26 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 81327

What planting zone is ZIP code 81327?

ZIP code 81327 (Lewis, CO) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Lewis, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 81327 is May 15; after May 31 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Yellow Jacket 4ne station.

When is the first frost in Lewis, CO?

The median first fall frost near 81327 is October 8, giving a median frost-free growing season of 147 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 81327?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 20 – Apr 3 and set transplants outside around May 22 – Jun 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 81327 get?

About 15 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Yellow Jacket 2w station).

How hot do summers get in Lewis, CO?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 14 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 81327 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Wetherill at the center of ZIP 81327: loam, well drained, pH about 7.4 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Lewis, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 81327 came on Mar 19 in 2026, 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 4), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Lewis, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 81327 is 14 h 45 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 81327 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 81327 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.