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

Planting zone for 81430 — Placerville, CO

ZIP code 81430 (Placerville, San Miguel County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 26 and the first fall frost September 29.

Where ZIP 81430 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostMay 26
First frostSep 29
2012 zone5b

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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Placerville, 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 Placerville, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 6only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 29median — 10% chance by Sep 17
Growing season125 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 13 and returns around October 6.

From the NOAA station Placerville, CO — 2 miles away, elevation 7,382 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 81430

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 14 – May 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 5 – May 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 5 – May 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 2 – Jun 16
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 9 – Jun 23
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 2 – Jun 16
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 2 – Jun 16
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 2 – Jun 16
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 4 – Aug 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 15 – Oct 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 26) and first fall frost (Sep 29) 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 81430 came on Mar 26 — 28 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 23).

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 5b in Colorado

546 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Colorado, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 27

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 98

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 246

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 163

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 3

riverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °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 Placerville, CO.

Soil in Placerville, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 81430 is Zoltay — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Zoltay loam, 3 to 15 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 81430; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Placerville, CO

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, December
Hot days7days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights202nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,781base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 49 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 31 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation21.5 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 40 °F, low 13 °F 40°13° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 16 °F 43°16° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 22 °F 52°22° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 28 °F 58°28° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 35 °F 68°35° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 45 °F 80°45° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 50 °F 83°50° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 49 °F 80°49° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 42 °F 74°42° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 30 °F 62°30° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 19 °F 50°19° NovDecember: average high 40 °F, low 12 °F 40°12° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 1.42 in precipitation 1.4 JanFebruary: 1.53 in precipitation 1.5 FebMarch: 1.83 in precipitation 1.8 MarApril: 1.61 in precipitation 1.6 AprMay: 1.83 in precipitation 1.8 MayJune: 0.81 in precipitation 0.8 JunJuly: 2.47 in precipitation 2.5 JulAugust: 2.56 in precipitation 2.6 AugSeptember: 2.52 in precipitation 2.5 SepOctober: 2.17 in precipitation 2.2 OctNovember: 1.62 in precipitation 1.6 NovDecember: 1.15 in precipitation 1.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Placerville, CO (2 mi away); precipitation: Placerville, CO (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

814355b
Telluride, CO · 15 mi
814326a
Ridgway, CO · 18 mi
814265b
Ophir, CO · 19 mi
814036a
Montrose, CO · 20 mi
814236a
Norwood, CO · 20 mi
813236a
Dolores, CO · 24 mi
813325b
Rico, CO · 25 mi
814275b
Ouray, CO · 25 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 81430

What planting zone is ZIP code 81430?

ZIP code 81430 (Placerville, CO) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in Placerville, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 81430 is May 26; after June 6 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Placerville station.

When is the first frost in Placerville, CO?

The median first fall frost near 81430 is September 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 125 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 81430?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 31 – Apr 14 and set transplants outside around Jun 2 – Jun 16, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 81430 get?

About 21.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Placerville station).

How hot do summers get in Placerville, CO?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 7 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 81430 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Zoltay at the center of ZIP 81430: loam, well drained, pH about 7.2 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Placerville, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 81430 came on Mar 26 in 2026, 28 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 23), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Placerville, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 81430 is 14 h 49 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.