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

Planting zone for 81401 — Montrose, CO

ZIP code 81401 (Montrose, Montrose County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 20 and the first fall frost October 1.

Where ZIP 81401 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 20
First frostOct 1
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 Montrose, 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 Montrose, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 20median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 4only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 1median — 10% chance by Sep 19
Growing season132 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 5 and returns around October 8.

From the NOAA station Montrose 11 Ene, CO — 4 miles away, elevation 8,403 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 81401

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 29
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 29 – May 13
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
TomatoesTransplant · May 27 – Jun 10
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 3 – Jun 17
BeansSow outdoors · May 27 – Jun 10
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 27 – Jun 10
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 27 – Jun 10
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 6 – Aug 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 17 – Oct 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 20) and first fall frost (Oct 1) 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 81401 came on Mar 17 — 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5).

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 Montrose, CO.

Soil in Montrose, CO

The center of ZIP 81401 is mapped as Badland: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 81401; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Montrose, CO

Summer high78 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights185nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,512base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 51 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
Precipitation14.8 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 31 °F, low 14 °F 31°14° JanFebruary: average high 34 °F, low 17 °F 34°17° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 23 °F 42°23° MarApril: average high 50 °F, low 29 °F 50°29° AprMay: average high 61 °F, low 38 °F 61°38° MayJune: average high 72 °F, low 47 °F 72°47° JunJuly: average high 78 °F, low 53 °F 78°53° JulAugust: average high 75 °F, low 51 °F 75°51° AugSeptember: average high 67 °F, low 44 °F 67°44° SepOctober: average high 55 °F, low 33 °F 55°33° OctNovember: average high 42 °F, low 23 °F 42°23° NovDecember: average high 31 °F, low 15 °F 31°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″January: 1.05 in precipitation 1.1 JanFebruary: 1.09 in precipitation 1.1 FebMarch: 1.37 in precipitation 1.4 MarApril: 1.38 in precipitation 1.4 AprMay: 1.22 in precipitation 1.2 MayJune: 0.61 in precipitation 0.6 JunJuly: 1.26 in precipitation 1.3 JulAugust: 1.30 in precipitation 1.3 AugSeptember: 1.85 in precipitation 1.9 SepOctober: 1.28 in precipitation 1.3 OctNovember: 0.98 in precipitation 1.0 NovDecember: 1.38 in precipitation 1.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Montrose 11 Ene, CO (4 mi away); precipitation: Montrose 7.3 Ene, CO (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

2 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

814026b
Montrose, CO · 7 mi
814156a
Crawford, CO · 11 mi
814036a
Montrose, CO · 16 mi
814206b
Lazear, CO · 18 mi
814256b
Olathe, CO · 19 mi
814146b
Cory, CO · 22 mi
814106b
Austin, CO · 23 mi
814196b
Hotchkiss, CO · 25 mi

All 3 ZIP codes in Montrose → · Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 81401

What planting zone is ZIP code 81401?

ZIP code 81401 (Montrose, 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 Montrose, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 81401 is May 20; after June 4 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Montrose 11 Ene station.

When is the first frost in Montrose, CO?

The median first fall frost near 81401 is October 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 132 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 81401?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 25 – Apr 8 and set transplants outside around May 27 – Jun 10, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 81401 get?

About 14.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Montrose 7.3 Ene station).

How hot do summers get in Montrose, CO?

The average high peaks at 78 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Montrose, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 81401 came on Mar 17 in 2026, 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Montrose, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 81401 is 14 h 51 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.