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

Planting zone for 81334 — Towaoc, CO

ZIP code 81334 (Towaoc, Montezuma County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 9 and the first fall frost October 14.

Where ZIP 81334 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 9
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 Towaoc, 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 Towaoc, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 27only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 14median — 10% chance by Oct 1
Growing season156 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 27 and returns around October 24.

From the NOAA station Mesa Verde Np, CO — 7 miles away, elevation 7,143 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 81334

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 18
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
TomatoesTransplant · May 16 – May 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 23 – Jun 6
BeansSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
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 9) 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 81334 came on Mar 2 — 29 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31).

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 Towaoc, CO.

Soil in Towaoc, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 81334 is Romberg — very stony loam, well drained.

TextureVery stony loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.4slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Romberg, extremely stony-Crosscan, very bouldery-Rock outcrop complex, 25 to 80 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 81334; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Towaoc, CO

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low20 °Faverage low, January
Hot days16days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights156nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,634base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 43 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
Precipitation17.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall65 inper year; 75 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 40 °F, low 20 °F 40°20° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 23 °F 43°23° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 30 °F 51°30° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 34 °F 59°34° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 43 °F 69°43° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 52 °F 81°52° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 59 °F 86°59° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 57 °F 84°57° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 50 °F 76°50° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 39 °F 63°39° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 29 °F 50°29° NovDecember: average high 40 °F, low 20 °F 40°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 1.96 in precipitation, 18.1 in snowfall 2.0❄18 JanFebruary: 1.66 in precipitation, 12 in snowfall 1.7❄12 FebMarch: 1.38 in precipitation, 8 in snowfall 1.4❄8 MarApril: 1.14 in precipitation, 5 in snowfall 1.1❄5 AprMay: 1.13 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 1.1❄1 MayJune: 0.47 in precipitation 0.5 JunJuly: 1.41 in precipitation 1.4 JulAugust: 2.05 in precipitation 2.0 AugSeptember: 1.77 in precipitation 1.8 SepOctober: 1.44 in precipitation, 1.5 in snowfall 1.4❄2 OctNovember: 1.19 in precipitation, 5.6 in snowfall 1.2❄6 NovDecember: 1.51 in precipitation, 14.2 in snowfall 1.5❄14 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Mesa Verde Np, CO (7 mi away); precipitation: Mesa Verde Np, CO (7 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.

813307a
Mesa Verde National Park, CO · 10 mi
813217a
Cortez, CO · 13 mi
813286a
Mancos, CO · 18 mi
813276b
Lewis, CO · 26 mi
874217a
Waterflow, NM · 26 mi
813316b
Pleasant View, CO · 26 mi
874207a
Shiprock, NM · 26 mi
813296a
Marvel, CO · 27 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 81334

What planting zone is ZIP code 81334?

ZIP code 81334 (Towaoc, 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 Towaoc, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 81334 is May 9; after May 27 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mesa Verde Np station.

When is the first frost in Towaoc, CO?

The median first fall frost near 81334 is October 14, giving a median frost-free growing season of 156 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 81334?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 14 – Mar 28 and set transplants outside around May 16 – May 30, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 81334 get?

About 17.1 inches of precipitation a year and 65 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mesa Verde Np station).

How hot do summers get in Towaoc, CO?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 16 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 81334 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Romberg at the center of ZIP 81334: very stony loam, well drained, pH about 7.4 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Towaoc, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 81334 came on Mar 2 in 2026, 29 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Towaoc, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 81334 is 14 h 43 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 81334 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 81334 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.