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

Planting zone for 81522 — Gateway, CO

ZIP code 81522 (Gateway, Mesa County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 20 and the first fall frost October 21.

Where ZIP 81522 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 frostApr 20
First frostOct 21
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 Gateway, 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 Gateway, CO

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 20median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 21median — 10% chance by Oct 7
Growing season182 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 1 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Gateway 1ene, CO — 2 miles away, elevation 4,672 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 81522

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 30
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 27 – May 11
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 4 – May 18
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 26 – Sep 9
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 7 – Nov 11
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 20) and first fall frost (Oct 21) 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 81522 came on Mar 16 — 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 30).

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 Gateway, CO.

Soil in Gateway, CO

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 81522 is Sedgran — fine sandy loam, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.6slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Rock outcrop-Sedgran complex, 40 to 65 percent slopes, very stony.

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 81522; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Gateway, CO

Summer high95 °Faverage high, July
Winter low21 °Faverage low, January
Hot days73days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights127nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,978base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 52 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 27 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation11.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall11 inper year; 6 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 45 °F, low 21 °F 45°21° JanFebruary: average high 52 °F, low 27 °F 52°27° FebMarch: average high 63 °F, low 34 °F 63°34° MarApril: average high 71 °F, low 40 °F 71°40° AprMay: average high 80 °F, low 48 °F 80°48° MayJune: average high 91 °F, low 57 °F 91°57° JunJuly: average high 95 °F, low 64 °F 95°64° JulAugust: average high 92 °F, low 62 °F 92°62° AugSeptember: average high 85 °F, low 53 °F 85°53° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 41 °F 71°41° OctNovember: average high 57 °F, low 30 °F 57°30° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 22 °F 45°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″January: 0.71 in precipitation, 3.5 in snowfall 0.7❄4 JanFebruary: 0.69 in precipitation, 1.9 in snowfall 0.7❄2 FebMarch: 1.00 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 1.0❄1 MarApril: 1.13 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 1.1❄1 AprMay: 1.05 in precipitation 1.1 MayJune: 0.50 in precipitation 0.5 JunJuly: 1.21 in precipitation 1.2 JulAugust: 1.26 in precipitation 1.3 AugSeptember: 1.45 in precipitation 1.4 SepOctober: 1.22 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.2 OctNovember: 0.83 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 0.8❄1 NovDecember: 0.75 in precipitation, 3.1 in snowfall 0.8❄3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Gateway 1ene, CO (2 mi away); precipitation: Gateway 1ene, CO (2 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.

815236b
Glade Park, CO · 17 mi
814296b
Paradox, CO · 21 mi
815276a
Whitewater, CO · 26 mi
815077a
Grand Junction, CO · 27 mi
845327a
Moab, UT · 28 mi
814226b
Naturita, CO · 28 mi
845156b
Cisco, UT · 28 mi
814116b
Bedrock, CO · 30 mi

Colorado planting zones →

Questions about 81522

What planting zone is ZIP code 81522?

ZIP code 81522 (Gateway, 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 Gateway, CO?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 81522 is April 20; after May 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gateway 1ene station.

When is the first frost in Gateway, CO?

The median first fall frost near 81522 is October 21, giving a median frost-free growing season of 182 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 81522?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 23 – Mar 9 and set transplants outside around Apr 27 – May 11, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 81522 get?

About 11.8 inches of precipitation a year and 11 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gateway 1ene station).

How hot do summers get in Gateway, CO?

The average high peaks at 95 °F in July, with about 73 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 81522 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Sedgran at the center of ZIP 81522: fine sandy loam, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 7.6 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Gateway, CO in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 81522 came on Mar 16 in 2026, 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 30), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Gateway, CO?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 81522 is 14 h 52 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.