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

Planting zone for 81416 — Delta, CO

ZIP code 81416 (Delta, Delta County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 1 and the first fall frost October 7.

Where ZIP 81416 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 1
First frostOct 7
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 Delta, 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 Delta, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 14only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 7median — 10% chance by Sep 26
Growing season159 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 19 and returns around October 16.

From the NOAA station Delta 3e, CO — 14 miles away, elevation 5,026 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 81416

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
TomatoesTransplant · May 8 – May 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 15 – May 29
BeansSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 12 – Aug 26
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 23 – Oct 28
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 1) and first fall frost (Oct 7) 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 81416 came on Mar 12 — 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 28).

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 Delta, CO.

Soil in Delta, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 81416 is Walknolls — very channery sandy loam, well drained.

TextureVery channery sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH8.0alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Walknolls-Rock outcrop complex, 20 to 60 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 81416; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Delta, CO

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July
Winter low15 °Faverage low, January
Hot days68days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights160nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,082base 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
Precipitation10.7 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 40 °F, low 15 °F 40°15° JanFebruary: average high 48 °F, low 21 °F 48°21° FebMarch: average high 59 °F, low 28 °F 59°28° MarApril: average high 67 °F, low 35 °F 67°35° AprMay: average high 76 °F, low 44 °F 76°44° MayJune: average high 88 °F, low 52 °F 88°52° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 58 °F 93°58° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 56 °F 90°56° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 47 °F 82°47° SepOctober: average high 68 °F, low 34 °F 68°34° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 24 °F 53°24° NovDecember: average high 40 °F, low 15 °F 40°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″January: 0.42 in precipitation 0.4 JanFebruary: 0.47 in precipitation 0.5 FebMarch: 0.79 in precipitation 0.8 MarApril: 0.88 in precipitation 0.9 AprMay: 1.12 in precipitation 1.1 MayJune: 0.62 in precipitation 0.6 JunJuly: 1.25 in precipitation 1.3 JulAugust: 1.41 in precipitation 1.4 AugSeptember: 1.35 in precipitation 1.4 SepOctober: 1.09 in precipitation 1.1 OctNovember: 0.83 in precipitation 0.8 NovDecember: 0.43 in precipitation 0.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Delta 3e, CO (14 mi away); precipitation: Olathe 3.2 Nne, CO (16 mi away). 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.

814256b
Olathe, CO · 15 mi
815276a
Whitewater, CO · 16 mi
814146b
Cory, CO · 18 mi
814106b
Austin, CO · 19 mi
814186b
Eckert, CO · 21 mi
814026b
Montrose, CO · 23 mi
814246a
Nucla, CO · 24 mi
814206b
Lazear, CO · 27 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 81416

What planting zone is ZIP code 81416?

ZIP code 81416 (Delta, 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 Delta, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 81416 is May 1; after May 14 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Delta 3e station.

When is the first frost in Delta, CO?

The median first fall frost near 81416 is October 7, giving a median frost-free growing season of 159 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 81416?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 6 – Mar 20 and set transplants outside around May 8 – May 22, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 81416 get?

About 10.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Olathe 3.2 Nne station).

How hot do summers get in Delta, CO?

The average high peaks at 93 °F in July, with about 68 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 81416 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Walknolls at the center of ZIP 81416: very channery sandy loam, well drained, pH about 8.0 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Delta, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 81416 came on Mar 12 in 2026, 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 28), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Delta, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 81416 is 14 h 52 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.