Frost Dates for Grand Junction, CO 81501
Last spring frost May 1 · First fall frost October 16 · 168 frost-free days · USDA Zone 7a
ZIP 81501 has about 24,000 people, one of 6 ZIP codes in Grand Junction.
Moderate season: 168 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 13–May 19 (36 days). Fall frost risk spans September 27–November 3 (37 days).
Frost probability for 81501
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 19 | May 1 | April 13 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 27 | October 16 | November 3 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at GRAND JUNCTION 6ESE (7.6 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 168-day season in Grand Junction
In Grand Junction (168 frost-free days, a moderate season), 31 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 24 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 27 | May 15–May 22 | 126 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 126 available after May 15. | Jun 16 |
| Pepper | Mar 20 | May 15–May 22 | 126 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 126 available after May 15. | Jun 21 |
| Lettuce | Mar 6 | Apr 3–Apr 10 | 203 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 3 and again by Aug 25; both mature before Oct 23. | Aug 25 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 10–Apr 17 | 210 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 210 available after Apr 10. | Aug 14 |
| Cucumber | Apr 10 | May 15–May 22 | 140 | two-plantings: Plant May 15 and again by Jul 20; both mature before Oct 2. | Jul 20 |
| Beans | — | May 8–May 22 | 154 | two-plantings: Plant May 8 and again by Jul 27; both mature before Oct 9. | Jul 27 |
| Peas | — | Mar 6–May 15 | 231 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 231 available after Mar 6. | Aug 5 |
| Zucchini | Apr 17 | May 15–May 22 | 140 | two-plantings: Plant May 15 and again by Jul 25; both mature before Oct 2. | Jul 25 |
| Onion | Feb 6 | Apr 3–Apr 17 | 203 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 203 available after Apr 3. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 6–Apr 24 | 245 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 6 and again by Sep 13; both mature before Nov 6. | Sep 13 |
| Kale | Feb 20 | Apr 3–Apr 17 | 217 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 3 and again by Aug 29; both mature before Nov 6. | Aug 29 |
| Broccoli | Mar 6 | Apr 3–Apr 17 | 203 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 203 available after Apr 3. | Jul 21 |
| Cabbage | Mar 6 | Apr 3–Apr 17 | 217 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 217 available after Apr 3. | Aug 14 |
| Radish | — | Mar 6–May 29 | 231 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 6 and again by Sep 14; both mature before Oct 23. | Sep 14 |
| Beets | — | Mar 6–May 29 | 231 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 6 and again by Aug 15; both mature before Oct 23. | Aug 15 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 17–Apr 24 | 189 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 189 available after Apr 17. | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 16 | 273 | overwinter: Plant Oct 16 to Nov 6; harvest the following summer. | Nov 6 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 27–May 22 | 224 | perennial: A perennial: plant Mar 27; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 3 | May 8–May 15 | 140 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 140 available after May 8. | Jun 28 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 17 | May 15–May 15 | 133 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 133 available after May 15. | Jun 3 |
| Cauliflower | Mar 20 | Apr 24–May 8 | 182 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 182 available after Apr 24. | Jul 26 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 6 | Apr 17–Apr 17 | 189 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 17 and again by Aug 15; both mature before Oct 23. | Aug 15 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 6–May 29 | 245 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 6 and again by Sep 13; both mature before Nov 6. | Sep 13 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 6 | Apr 3–Apr 17 | 217 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 217 available after Apr 3. | Jul 15 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 17 | May 15–May 22 | 133 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 133 available after May 15. | Jun 3 |
| Eggplant | Mar 13 | May 15–May 22 | 126 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 126 available after May 15. | Jun 26 |
| Okra | Apr 3 | May 8–May 15 | 147 | two-plantings: Plant May 8 and again by Jul 25; both mature before Oct 2. | Jul 25 |
| Basil | Mar 27 | May 22–May 22 | 133 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 133 available after May 22. | Jul 20 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 3–Apr 24 | 203 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 3 and again by Aug 20; both mature before Oct 23. | Aug 20 |
| Parsley | Feb 20 | May 8–May 15 | 168 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 168 available after May 8. | Jul 31 |
| Celery | Feb 20 | May 8–May 22 | 168 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 168 available after May 8. | Jun 11 |
| Scallions | Feb 20 | Apr 3–Apr 17 | 217 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 3 and again by Aug 24; both mature before Nov 6. | Aug 24 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 3–Apr 17 | 217 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 3 and again by Sep 3; both mature before Nov 6. | Sep 3 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 20–Apr 3 | 231 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 20 and again by Aug 29; both mature before Nov 6. | Aug 29 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 3 | Apr 24–May 1 | 182 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 24 and again by Aug 25; both mature before Oct 23. | Aug 25 |
| Collards | Feb 20 | Apr 3–Apr 17 | 217 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 3 and again by Aug 24; both mature before Nov 6. | Aug 24 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 17 | May 15–May 22 | 126 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 126 available after May 15. | Jun 11 |
| Chives | Feb 6 | May 8–May 15 | 182 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 182 available after May 8. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 6–May 29 | 231 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 6 and again by Aug 15; both mature before Oct 23. | Aug 15 |
| Oregano | Feb 20 | May 8–May 15 | 182 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 182 available after May 8. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 6 | May 8–May 15 | 168 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 168 available after May 8. | — |
| Sage | Mar 6 | May 8–May 15 | 182 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 182 available after May 8. | — |
| Thyme | Feb 20 | May 8–May 15 | 182 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 182 available after May 8. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 20 | Apr 17–May 1 | 189 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 17 and again by Aug 20; both mature before Oct 23. | Aug 20 |
| Cosmos | Apr 3 | May 1–May 15 | 154 | two-plantings: Plant May 1 and again by Jul 20; both mature before Oct 2. | Jul 20 |
| Lavender | Feb 6 | May 1–May 15 | 189 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 189 available after May 1. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 20 | May 1–May 8 | 154 | two-plantings: Plant May 1 and again by Jul 30; both mature before Oct 2. | Jul 30 |
| Melons | Apr 17 | May 15–May 22 | 126 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 126 available after May 15. | Jun 11 |
| Mint | — | May 1–May 15 | 189 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 189 available after May 1. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 3 | May 1–May 8 | 154 | two-plantings: Plant May 1 and again by Jul 25; both mature before Oct 2. | Jul 25 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 8–May 22 | 147 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 147 available after May 8. | Jul 15 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 17 | May 15–May 22 | 133 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 133 available after May 15. | Jun 13 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 1–May 15 | 154 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 154 available after May 1. | Jul 10 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 6 | May 8–May 15 | 133 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 133 available after May 8. | Jun 21 |
| Watermelon | Apr 17 | May 8–May 15 | 133 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 133 available after May 8. | Jun 16 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 17 | May 15–May 22 | 140 | two-plantings: Plant May 15 and again by Jul 25; both mature before Oct 2. | Jul 25 |
| Zinnias | Apr 3 | May 1–May 15 | 154 | two-plantings: Plant May 1 and again by Jul 20; both mature before Oct 2. | Jul 20 |
Month by month in Grand Junction
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 6), Lavender (Feb 6), Onion (Feb 6), Rosemary (Feb 6), Celery (Feb 20), Collards (Feb 20), +5 more. |
| March | Start indoors: Broccoli (Mar 6), Brussel Sprouts (Mar 6), Cabbage (Mar 6), Lettuce (Mar 6), Sage (Mar 6), Swiss Chard (Mar 6), +8 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 6), Beets (Mar 6), Dill (Mar 6), Peas (Mar 6), Radish (Mar 6), Spinach (Mar 6), +1 more. Plant: Strawberry (Mar 27). |
| April | Start indoors: Bok Choy (Apr 3), Corn (Apr 3), Cosmos (Apr 3), Nasturtiums (Apr 3), Okra (Apr 3), Zinnias (Apr 3), +9 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 3), Turnip (Apr 3), Carrots (Apr 10), Potatoes (Apr 17). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 3), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 3), Cabbage (Apr 3), Collards (Apr 3), Kale (Apr 3), Lettuce (Apr 3), +6 more. |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 1), Beans (May 8), Pole Beans (May 8). Transplant from: Cosmos (May 1), Lavender (May 1), Marigolds (May 1), Mint (May 1), Nasturtiums (May 1), Zinnias (May 1), +23 more. Last frost around May 1. |
| June | Last sowing dates: Butternut Squash (Jun 3), Pumpkin (Jun 3), Cantaloupe (Jun 11), Celery (Jun 11), Melons (Jun 11), Spaghetti Squash (Jun 13), +6 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Sunflowers (Jul 10), Brussel Sprouts (Jul 15), Pole Beans (Jul 15), Basil (Jul 20), Cosmos (Jul 20), Cucumber (Jul 20), +10 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Peas (Aug 5), Cabbage (Aug 14), Carrots (Aug 14), Beets (Aug 15), Dill (Aug 15), Swiss Chard (Aug 15), +8 more. |
| September | Last sowing dates: Turnip (Sep 3), Arugula (Sep 13), Spinach (Sep 13), Radish (Sep 14). |
| October | Direct sow from: Garlic (Oct 16). First frost around October 16. |
| November | Last sowing dates: Garlic (Nov 6). |
| December | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last frost date for Grand Junction, CO (ZIP 81501)?
The median last spring frost date for Grand Junction, CO (ZIP code 81501) is around May 1. This is the 50th-percentile date — meaning half of all years see frost end before this date. Use the 10% and 90% dates to understand the full range of risk in your area. One year in ten frost ends before April 13; one in ten it runs past May 19.
What is the first fall frost date in Grand Junction, CO?
The median first fall frost date for Grand Junction, CO is around October 16. Plan to harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops like tomatoes and peppers at least a week before this date to avoid losses. The first frost arrives around September 27 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Grand Junction, CO?
The frost-free growing season in Grand Junction is about 168 days. This window — from your last spring frost to your first fall frost — is when warm-season vegetables thrive. Cold-hardy crops like kale, spinach, and peas can extend your season by weeks on either side. In Grand Junction (168 frost-free days, a moderate season), 31 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 24 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Grand Junction, CO?
Grand Junction, CO is in USDA hardiness zone 7a (2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map). Zones come from the average coldest winter temperature, so they tell you which perennials survive the winter; the frost dates on this page tell you when to plant.
When should I start tomatoes indoors in Grand Junction, CO?
Start tomatoes indoors Mar 27 and plant out May 15 in Grand Junction. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Grand Junction?
Two: plant Apr 3 and again by Aug 25; both mature before Oct 23.
When do I plant garlic in Grand Junction?
Oct 16 to Nov 6; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
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