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

Planting zone for 81335 — Yellow Jacket, CO

ZIP code 81335 (Yellow Jacket, Montezuma County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 17 and the first fall frost October 9.

Where ZIP 81335 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 17
First frostOct 9
2012 zone6b

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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Yellow Jacket, 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 Yellow Jacket, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 17median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 4only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 9median — 10% chance by Sep 24
Growing season145 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 30 and returns around October 19.

From the NOAA station Yellow Jacket 2w, CO — 2 miles away, elevation 6,933 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 81335

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 26
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 26 – May 10
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
TomatoesTransplant · May 24 – Jun 7
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 31 – Jun 14
BeansSow outdoors · May 24 – Jun 7
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 24 – Jun 7
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 24 – Jun 7
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 14 – Aug 28
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 25 – Oct 30
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 17) and first fall frost (Oct 9) 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 81335 came on Mar 18 — 20 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7).

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 Yellow Jacket, CO.

Soil in Yellow Jacket, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 81335 is Sharps — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Sharps-Cahona complex, 6 to 12 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 81335; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Yellow Jacket, CO

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days32days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights173nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,553base 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 41 °F, low 16 °F 41°16° JanFebruary: average high 45 °F, low 20 °F 45°20° FebMarch: average high 54 °F, low 26 °F 54°26° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 32 °F 63°32° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 39 °F 72°39° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 48 °F 85°48° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 54 °F 90°54° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 53 °F 86°53° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 47 °F 79°47° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 36 °F 66°36° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 25 °F 53°25° NovDecember: average high 41 °F, low 17 °F 41°17° 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 2w, CO (2 mi away); precipitation: Yellow Jacket 2w, CO (2 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.

813276b
Lewis, CO · 4 mi
813206b
Cahone, CO · 12 mi
813316b
Pleasant View, CO · 12 mi
813217a
Cortez, CO · 16 mi
813246b
Dove Creek, CO · 17 mi
813307a
Mesa Verde National Park, CO · 25 mi
813256b
Egnar, CO · 26 mi
813347a
Towaoc, CO · 28 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 81335

What planting zone is ZIP code 81335?

ZIP code 81335 (Yellow Jacket, 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 Yellow Jacket, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 81335 is May 17; after June 4 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Yellow Jacket 2w station.

When is the first frost in Yellow Jacket, CO?

The median first fall frost near 81335 is October 9, giving a median frost-free growing season of 145 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 81335?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 22 – Apr 5 and set transplants outside around May 24 – Jun 7, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 81335 get?

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

How hot do summers get in Yellow Jacket, CO?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 32 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 81335 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Sharps at the center of ZIP 81335: loam, well drained, pH about 7.2 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Yellow Jacket, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 81335 came on Mar 18 in 2026, 20 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Yellow Jacket, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 81335 is 14 h 45 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.