Frost Dates for Sterling, CO 80751
Last spring frost May 8 · First fall frost September 30 · 145 frost-free days · USDA Zone 5b
ZIP 80751 has about 16,900 people.
Moderate season: 145 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 27–May 19 (22 days). Fall frost risk spans September 16–October 14 (28 days).
Frost probability for 80751
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 19 | May 8 | April 27 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 16 | September 30 | October 14 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at LEROY 5 WSW (26.4 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 145-day season in Sterling
In Sterling (145 frost-free days, a moderate season), 37 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 18 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 3 | May 22–May 29 | 103 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 103 available after May 22. | May 31 |
| Pepper | Mar 27 | May 22–May 29 | 103 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 103 available after May 22. | Jun 5 |
| Lettuce | Mar 13 | Apr 10–Apr 17 | 180 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 10 and again by Aug 9; both mature before Oct 7. | Aug 9 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 17–Apr 24 | 187 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 187 available after Apr 17. | Jul 29 |
| Cucumber | Apr 17 | May 22–May 29 | 117 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 117 available after May 22. | Jul 4 |
| Beans | — | May 15–May 29 | 131 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 131 available after May 15. | Jul 11 |
| Peas | — | Mar 13–May 22 | 208 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 208 available after Mar 13. | Jul 20 |
| Zucchini | Apr 24 | May 22–May 29 | 117 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 117 available after May 22. | Jul 9 |
| Onion | Feb 13 | Apr 10–Apr 24 | 180 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 180 available after Apr 10. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 13–May 1 | 222 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 13 and again by Aug 28; both mature before Oct 21. | Aug 28 |
| Kale | Feb 27 | Apr 10–Apr 24 | 194 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 10 and again by Aug 13; both mature before Oct 21. | Aug 13 |
| Broccoli | Mar 13 | Apr 10–Apr 24 | 180 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 180 available after Apr 10. | Jul 5 |
| Cabbage | Mar 13 | Apr 10–Apr 24 | 194 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 194 available after Apr 10. | Jul 29 |
| Radish | — | Mar 13–Jun 5 | 208 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 13 and again by Aug 29; both mature before Oct 7. | Aug 29 |
| Beets | — | Mar 13–Jun 5 | 208 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 13 and again by Jul 30; both mature before Oct 7. | Jul 30 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 24–May 1 | 166 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 166 available after Apr 24. | — |
| Garlic | — | Sep 30 | 250 | overwinter: Plant Sep 30 to Oct 21; harvest the following summer. | Oct 21 |
| Strawberry | — | Apr 3–May 29 | 201 | perennial: A perennial: plant Apr 3; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 10 | May 15–May 22 | 117 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 117 available after May 15. | Jun 12 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 24 | May 22–May 22 | 110 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 110 available after May 22. | — |
| Cauliflower | Mar 27 | May 1–May 15 | 159 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 159 available after May 1. | Jul 10 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 13 | Apr 24–Apr 24 | 166 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 24 and again by Jul 30; both mature before Oct 7. | Jul 30 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 13–Jun 5 | 222 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 13 and again by Aug 28; both mature before Oct 21. | Aug 28 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 13 | Apr 10–Apr 24 | 194 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 194 available after Apr 10. | Jun 29 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 24 | May 22–May 29 | 110 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 110 available after May 22. | — |
| Eggplant | Mar 20 | May 22–May 29 | 103 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 103 available after May 22. | Jun 10 |
| Okra | Apr 10 | May 15–May 22 | 124 | two-plantings: Plant May 15 and again by Jul 9; both mature before Sep 16. | Jul 9 |
| Basil | Apr 3 | May 29–May 29 | 110 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 110 available after May 29. | Jul 4 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 10–May 1 | 180 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 10 and again by Aug 4; both mature before Oct 7. | Aug 4 |
| Parsley | Feb 27 | May 15–May 22 | 145 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 145 available after May 15. | Jul 15 |
| Celery | Feb 27 | May 15–May 29 | 145 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 145 available after May 15. | May 26 |
| Scallions | Feb 27 | Apr 10–Apr 24 | 194 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 10 and again by Aug 8; both mature before Oct 21. | Aug 8 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 10–Apr 24 | 194 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 10 and again by Aug 18; both mature before Oct 21. | Aug 18 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 27–Apr 10 | 208 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 27 and again by Aug 13; both mature before Oct 21. | Aug 13 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 10 | May 1–May 8 | 159 | two-plantings: Plant May 1 and again by Aug 9; both mature before Oct 7. | Aug 9 |
| Collards | Feb 27 | Apr 10–Apr 24 | 194 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 10 and again by Aug 8; both mature before Oct 21. | Aug 8 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 24 | May 22–May 29 | 103 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 103 available after May 22. | May 26 |
| Chives | Feb 13 | May 15–May 22 | 159 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 159 available after May 15. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 13–Jun 5 | 208 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 13 and again by Jul 30; both mature before Oct 7. | Jul 30 |
| Oregano | Feb 27 | May 15–May 22 | 159 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 159 available after May 15. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 13 | May 15–May 22 | 145 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 145 available after May 15. | — |
| Sage | Mar 13 | May 15–May 22 | 159 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 159 available after May 15. | — |
| Thyme | Feb 27 | May 15–May 22 | 159 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 159 available after May 15. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 27 | Apr 24–May 8 | 166 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 24 and again by Aug 4; both mature before Oct 7. | Aug 4 |
| Cosmos | Apr 10 | May 8–May 22 | 131 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 131 available after May 8. | Jul 4 |
| Lavender | Feb 13 | May 8–May 22 | 166 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 166 available after May 8. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 27 | May 8–May 15 | 131 | two-plantings: Plant May 8 and again by Jul 14; both mature before Sep 16. | Jul 14 |
| Melons | Apr 24 | May 22–May 29 | 103 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 103 available after May 22. | May 26 |
| Mint | — | May 8–May 22 | 166 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 166 available after May 8. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 10 | May 8–May 15 | 131 | two-plantings: Plant May 8 and again by Jul 9; both mature before Sep 16. | Jul 9 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 15–May 29 | 124 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 124 available after May 15. | Jun 29 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 24 | May 22–May 29 | 110 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 110 available after May 22. | May 28 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 8–May 22 | 131 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 131 available after May 8. | Jun 24 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 13 | May 15–May 22 | 110 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 110 available after May 15. | Jun 5 |
| Watermelon | Apr 24 | May 15–May 22 | 110 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 110 available after May 15. | May 31 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 24 | May 22–May 29 | 117 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 117 available after May 22. | Jul 9 |
| Zinnias | Apr 10 | May 8–May 22 | 131 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 131 available after May 8. | Jul 4 |
Month by month in Sterling
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 13), Lavender (Feb 13), Onion (Feb 13), Rosemary (Feb 13), Celery (Feb 27), Collards (Feb 27), +5 more. |
| March | Start indoors: Broccoli (Mar 13), Brussel Sprouts (Mar 13), Cabbage (Mar 13), Lettuce (Mar 13), Sage (Mar 13), Swiss Chard (Mar 13), +6 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 13), Beets (Mar 13), Dill (Mar 13), Peas (Mar 13), Radish (Mar 13), Spinach (Mar 13), +1 more. |
| April | Start indoors: Basil (Apr 3), Tomato (Apr 3), Bok Choy (Apr 10), Corn (Apr 10), Cosmos (Apr 10), Nasturtiums (Apr 10), +11 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 10), Turnip (Apr 10), Carrots (Apr 17), Potatoes (Apr 24). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 10), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 10), Cabbage (Apr 10), Collards (Apr 10), Kale (Apr 10), Lettuce (Apr 10), +4 more. Plant: Strawberry (Apr 3). |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 8), Beans (May 15), Pole Beans (May 15). Transplant from: Bok Choy (May 1), Cauliflower (May 1), Cosmos (May 8), Lavender (May 8), Marigolds (May 8), Mint (May 8), +25 more. Last frost around May 8. Last sowing dates: Cantaloupe (May 26), Celery (May 26), Melons (May 26), Spaghetti Squash (May 28), Tomato (May 31), Watermelon (May 31). |
| June | Last sowing dates: Pepper (Jun 5), Tomatillos (Jun 5), Eggplant (Jun 10), Corn (Jun 12), Sunflowers (Jun 24), Brussel Sprouts (Jun 29), +1 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Basil (Jul 4), Cosmos (Jul 4), Cucumber (Jul 4), Zinnias (Jul 4), Broccoli (Jul 5), Nasturtiums (Jul 9), +13 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Calendula (Aug 4), Cilantro (Aug 4), Collards (Aug 8), Scallions (Aug 8), Bok Choy (Aug 9), Lettuce (Aug 9), +6 more. |
| September | Direct sow from: Garlic (Sep 30). First frost around September 30. |
| October | Last sowing dates: Garlic (Oct 21). |
| November | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
| 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 Sterling, CO (ZIP 80751)?
The median last spring frost date for Sterling, CO (ZIP code 80751) is around May 8. 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 27; one in ten it runs past May 19.
What is the first fall frost date in Sterling, CO?
The median first fall frost date for Sterling, CO is around September 30. 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 16 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Sterling, CO?
The frost-free growing season in Sterling is about 145 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 Sterling (145 frost-free days, a moderate season), 37 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 18 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Sterling, CO?
Sterling, CO is in USDA hardiness zone 5b (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 Sterling, CO?
Start tomatoes indoors Apr 3 and plant out May 22 in Sterling. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Sterling?
Two: plant Apr 10 and again by Aug 9; both mature before Oct 7.
When do I plant garlic in Sterling?
Sep 30 to Oct 21; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
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