When to plant in Black Forest, CO
USDA Zone 5bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Black Forest, Colorado — all computed from Black Forest's nearest NOAA weather station.
A ~115-day frost-free window makes Black Forest a short-season garden: choose early varieties and start long-season crops indoors well ahead of the last frost. In zone 5b, Black Forest gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
Frost probability
EASTONVILLE 2 NNW · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Black Forest’s own odds, recorded at EASTONVILLE 2 NNW.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Jun 25 | Jun 11 | May 30 | Sep 1 | Sep 12 | Sep 22 |
| 32°F | Jun 13 | May 29 | May 15 | Sep 9 | Sep 21 | Oct 1 |
| 28°F | May 30 | May 14 | May 2 | Sep 16 | Sep 29 | Oct 10 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Black Forest, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 13 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Black Forest planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Black Forest, CO?
Black Forest's average last spring frost falls near May 29 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in Black Forest, CO?
In Black Forest, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around September 21 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Black Forest in?
Black Forest is in USDA hardiness zone 5b. In zone 5b, winters are cold — pick cold-hardy varieties and protect tender crops.
How long is the growing season in Black Forest?
Black Forest has about 115 frost-free days — a short growing season — between the average last spring frost (May 29) and first fall frost (September 21).
When should I plant tomatoes in Black Forest?
For Black Forest, sow tomatoes indoors about April 3–April 17 and move the seedlings out around June 5, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Black Forest
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Black Forest’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Monument · 14 km
- Cimarron Hills · 23 km
- Colorado Springs · 23 km
- Security-Widefield · 35 km
- Castle Rock · 38 km
- Fountain · 42 km
- Fort Carson · 42 km
- The Pinery · 43 km
Frost dates recorded at EASTONVILLE 2 NNW, 9 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Black Forest, CO — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00052494. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/colorado/black-forest.