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

Planting zone for 81330 — Mesa Verde National Park, CO

ZIP code 81330 (Mesa Verde National Park, Montezuma County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 6 and the first fall frost October 14.

Where ZIP 81330 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostMay 6
First frostOct 14
2012 zone6b

Was 6b 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 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Mesa Verde National Park, 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 Mesa Verde National Park, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 27only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 14median — 10% chance by Sep 30
Growing season158 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 26 and returns around October 27.

From the NOAA station Cortez 8 Se, CO — 2 miles away, elevation 8,035 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 81330

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesTransplant · May 13 – May 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
BeansSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 19 – Sep 2
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 30 – Nov 4
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (Oct 14) 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 81330 came on Mar 11 — 30 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 10).

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 7a in Colorado

573 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Colorado, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. 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 107

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 254

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 171

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 Mesa Verde National Park, CO.

Soil in Mesa Verde National Park, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 81330 is Prater — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Prater-Dolcan complex, 15 to 55 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 81330; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Mesa Verde National Park, CO

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days2days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights141nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,287base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 44 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 36 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation18.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 35 °F, low 22 °F 35°22° JanFebruary: average high 38 °F, low 24 °F 38°24° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 30 °F 47°30° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 35 °F 55°35° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 44 °F 65°44° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 54 °F 76°54° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 58 °F 82°58° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 57 °F 79°57° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 50 °F 71°50° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 40 °F 58°40° OctNovember: average high 45 °F, low 30 °F 45°30° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 22 °F 35°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 2.48 in precipitation 2.5 JanFebruary: 1.84 in precipitation 1.8 FebMarch: 1.72 in precipitation 1.7 MarApril: 1.58 in precipitation 1.6 AprMay: 1.11 in precipitation 1.1 MayJune: 0.36 in precipitation 0.4 JunJuly: 1.67 in precipitation 1.7 JulAugust: 1.77 in precipitation 1.8 AugSeptember: 1.58 in precipitation 1.6 SepOctober: 1.14 in precipitation 1.1 OctNovember: 1.75 in precipitation 1.8 NovDecember: 1.62 in precipitation 1.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Cortez 8 Se, CO (2 mi away); precipitation: Cortez 8 Se, CO (2 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.

813286a
Mancos, CO · 9 mi
813347a
Towaoc, CO · 10 mi
813217a
Cortez, CO · 15 mi
813266a
Hesperus, CO · 21 mi
813296a
Marvel, CO · 22 mi
874186b
La Plata, NM · 27 mi
874217a
Waterflow, NM · 32 mi
874177a
Kirtland, NM · 34 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 81330

What planting zone is ZIP code 81330?

ZIP code 81330 (Mesa Verde National Park, CO) is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 0 to 5 °F (−17.8 to −15 °C).

When is the last frost in Mesa Verde National Park, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 81330 is May 6; after May 27 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cortez 8 Se station.

When is the first frost in Mesa Verde National Park, CO?

The median first fall frost near 81330 is October 14, giving a median frost-free growing season of 158 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 81330?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 11 – Mar 25 and set transplants outside around May 13 – May 27, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 81330 get?

About 18.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cortez 8 Se station).

How hot do summers get in Mesa Verde National Park, CO?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 2 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 81330 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Prater at the center of ZIP 81330: loam, well drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Mesa Verde National Park, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 81330 came on Mar 11 in 2026, 30 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 10), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Mesa Verde National Park, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 81330 is 14 h 44 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 81330 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 81330 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.