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

Planting zone for 81415 — Crawford, CO

ZIP code 81415 (Crawford, Delta County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 23 and the first fall frost October 1.

Where ZIP 81415 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostMay 23
First frostOct 1
2012 zone6a

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 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Crawford, 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 Crawford, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 23median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 1median — 10% chance by Sep 20
Growing season130 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 7 and returns around October 9.

From the NOAA station Black Canyon Of The Gunnison, CO — 6 miles away, elevation 8,150 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 81415

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 11 – May 2
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 2 – May 16
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 2 – May 16
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
TomatoesTransplant · May 30 – Jun 13
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 6 – Jun 20
BeansSow outdoors · May 30 – Jun 13
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 30 – Jun 13
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 30 – Jun 13
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 23) 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 81415 came on Mar 20 — 24 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 13).

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 6a in Colorado

563 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Colorado, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. 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 251

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 167

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 Crawford, CO.

Soil in Crawford, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 81415 is Radersburg — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Radersburg loam, 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 81415; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Crawford, CO

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days6days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights199nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,882base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 52 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
Precipitation19.9 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 37 °F, low 13 °F 37°13° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 16 °F 40°16° FebMarch: average high 49 °F, low 23 °F 49°23° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 29 °F 56°29° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 38 °F 66°38° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 46 °F 76°46° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 53 °F 82°53° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 52 °F 81°52° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 44 °F 72°44° SepOctober: average high 60 °F, low 33 °F 60°33° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 23 °F 47°23° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 13 °F 36°13° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 1.73 in precipitation 1.7 JanFebruary: 1.74 in precipitation 1.7 FebMarch: 1.99 in precipitation 2.0 MarApril: 1.84 in precipitation 1.8 AprMay: 1.59 in precipitation 1.6 MayJune: 0.73 in precipitation 0.7 JunJuly: 1.65 in precipitation 1.6 JulAugust: 1.69 in precipitation 1.7 AugSeptember: 2.08 in precipitation 2.1 SepOctober: 1.90 in precipitation 1.9 OctNovember: 1.49 in precipitation 1.5 NovDecember: 1.52 in precipitation 1.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Black Canyon Of The Gunnison, CO (6 mi away); precipitation: Black Canyon Of The Gunnison, CO (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

814016b
Montrose, CO · 11 mi
814206b
Lazear, CO · 14 mi
814026b
Montrose, CO · 17 mi
814196b
Hotchkiss, CO · 19 mi
814146b
Cory, CO · 22 mi
814106b
Austin, CO · 23 mi
814286b
Paonia, CO · 23 mi
812205b
Cimarron, CO · 24 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 81415

What planting zone is ZIP code 81415?

ZIP code 81415 (Crawford, CO) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Crawford, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 81415 is May 23; after June 9 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Black Canyon Of The Gunnison station.

When is the first frost in Crawford, CO?

The median first fall frost near 81415 is October 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 130 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 81415?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 28 – Apr 11 and set transplants outside around May 30 – Jun 13, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 81415 get?

About 19.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Black Canyon Of The Gunnison station).

How hot do summers get in Crawford, CO?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 6 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 81415 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Radersburg at the center of ZIP 81415: loam, well drained, pH about 7.2 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Crawford, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 81415 came on Mar 20 in 2026, 24 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 13), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Crawford, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 81415 is 14 h 52 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.