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

Planting zone for 81418 — Eckert, CO

ZIP code 81418 (Eckert, Delta County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 3 and the first fall frost October 9.

Where ZIP 81418 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 3
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 Eckert, 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 Eckert, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 3median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 9median — 10% chance by Sep 27
Growing season156 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 25 and returns around October 19.

From the NOAA station Cedaredge 3e, CO — 9 miles away, elevation 6,838 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 81418

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 12
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
TomatoesTransplant · May 10 – May 24
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 17 – May 31
BeansSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
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 3) 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 81418 came on Mar 20 — 20 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 9).

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 Eckert, CO.

Soil in Eckert, CO

The center of ZIP 81418 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 81418; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Eckert, CO

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days19days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights150nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,561base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 54 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 26 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation12.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall40 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 37 °F, low 19 °F 37°19° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 22 °F 40°22° FebMarch: average high 50 °F, low 29 °F 50°29° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 35 °F 58°35° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 44 °F 68°44° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 53 °F 80°53° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 59 °F 86°59° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 57 °F 83°57° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 49 °F 74°49° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 38 °F 61°38° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 28 °F 47°28° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 19 °F 37°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″January: 1.05 in precipitation, 9.8 in snowfall 1.1❄10 JanFebruary: 0.92 in precipitation, 8.1 in snowfall 0.9❄8 FebMarch: 0.80 in precipitation, 6.2 in snowfall 0.8❄6 MarApril: 1.01 in precipitation, 2.6 in snowfall 1.0❄3 AprMay: 1.16 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 1.2❄1 MayJune: 0.48 in precipitation 0.5 JunJuly: 1.04 in precipitation 1.0 JulAugust: 1.23 in precipitation 1.2 AugSeptember: 1.83 in precipitation 1.8 SepOctober: 1.27 in precipitation 1.3 OctNovember: 0.54 in precipitation, 3.3 in snowfall 0.5❄3 NovDecember: 1.13 in precipitation, 9.2 in snowfall 1.1❄9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Cedaredge 3e, CO (9 mi away); precipitation: Cedaredge 3e, CO (9 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.

814106b
Austin, CO · 8 mi
814146b
Cory, CO · 9 mi
814135b
Cedaredge, CO · 10 mi
816465b
Molina, CO · 14 mi
816436b
Mesa, CO · 16 mi
814206b
Lazear, CO · 17 mi
815267a
Palisade, CO · 20 mi
814166b
Delta, CO · 21 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 81418

What planting zone is ZIP code 81418?

ZIP code 81418 (Eckert, 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 Eckert, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 81418 is May 3; after May 21 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cedaredge 3e station.

When is the first frost in Eckert, CO?

The median first fall frost near 81418 is October 9, giving a median frost-free growing season of 156 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 81418?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 8 – Mar 22 and set transplants outside around May 10 – May 24, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 81418 get?

About 12.5 inches of precipitation a year and 40 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cedaredge 3e station).

How hot do summers get in Eckert, CO?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 19 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Eckert, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 81418 came on Mar 20 in 2026, 20 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 9), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Eckert, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 81418 is 14 h 54 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.