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When to plant in Fountain, CO

USDA Zone 6a

Here are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Fountain, Colorado — all computed from Fountain's nearest NOAA weather station.

In zone 6a, Fountain gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.

Station · COLORADO SPRINGS MUNI AP · 13.5 km
Last spring frost
May 3
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
October 8
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
158 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for FountainA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Fountain: last spring frost around May 3, first fall frost around October 8, about 158 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

Frost probability

COLORADO SPRINGS MUNI AP · 1991–2020

The 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 Fountain’s own odds, recorded at COLORADO SPRINGS MUNI AP.

Frost-probability curves for FountainProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around May 3 and the first fall frost around October 8, giving about 158 frost-free days.
Last spring frostFirst fall frostbold = 32°F · thin = 28°F / 36°F · dot = 50% date · band = 10–90% window
ThresholdSPRING 10%SPRING 50%SPRING 90%FALL 10%FALL 50%FALL 90%
36°FMay 26May 14May 3Sep 17Oct 1Oct 12
32°FMay 15May 3Apr 22Sep 26Oct 8Oct 19
28°FMay 5Apr 24Apr 8Oct 4Oct 16Oct 29

Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.

What to plant now

TODAY · JULY 19
Fall sowopen now
Broccoli
July 16July 30
Fall sowopen now
Cabbage
July 16July 30
Fall sowopen now
Carrot
July 16July 30
Fall sowopen now
Cauliflower
July 16July 30
Fall sowopen now
Napa Cabbage
July 16August 13
Fall sowin 11 days
Beet
July 30August 13
Fall sowin 11 days
Collards
July 30August 27
Fall sowin 11 days
Endive
July 30August 13
Fall sowin 11 days
Escarole
July 30August 13
Fall sowin 11 days
Fennel (Bulb)
July 30August 13
Fall sowin 11 days
Kale
July 30August 27
Fall sowin 11 days
Kohlrabi
July 30August 27
Fall sowin 11 days
Peas
July 30August 13
Fall sowin 11 days
Radicchio
July 30August 13
Fall sowin 11 days
Swiss Chard
July 30August 13
Fall sowin 11 days
Turnip
July 30August 27
Fall sowin 25 days
Arugula
August 13September 10
Fall sowin 25 days
Bok Choy
August 13August 27
Fall sowin 25 days
Chervil
August 13September 10
Fall sowin 25 days
Cilantro
August 13September 10
Fall sowin 25 days
Claytonia (Miner's Lettuce)
August 13September 10
Fall sowin 25 days
Corn Salad (Mâche)
August 13September 10
Fall sowin 25 days
Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli)
August 13August 27
Fall sowin 25 days
Lettuce
August 13September 10
Fall sowin 25 days
Mizuna
August 13September 10
Fall sowin 25 days
Mustard Greens
August 13September 10
Fall sowin 25 days
Radish
August 13September 10
Fall sowin 25 days
Shungiku (Edible Chrysanthemum)
August 13August 27
Fall sowin 25 days
Spinach
August 13September 10
Fall sowin 25 days
Tatsoi
August 13September 10

Add these crops to your calendar (.ics) ↓

Full-year planting calendar

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall sow

Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Fountain, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 29 km · complete 32°F normals

When 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.

COLORADO SPRINGS MUNI AP
Primary
13 km · 1884 m elevation
SPRING
May 3
FALL
Oct 8
ELLICOTT 7S
25 km · 1749 m elevation
SPRING
May 6
FALL
Oct 3
CUMBRE VISTA - COLORADO SPGS 1
29 km · 2116 m elevation
SPRING
May 9
FALL
Oct 6

Fountain planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Fountain, CO?

Fountain's average last spring frost falls near May 3 — 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 Fountain, CO?

Expect Fountain's first fall frost near October 8 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.

What hardiness zone is Fountain in?

Fountain is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. In zone 6a, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.

How long is the growing season in Fountain?

Fountain has about 158 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (May 3) and first fall frost (October 8).

When should I plant tomatoes in Fountain?

For Fountain, sow tomatoes indoors about March 8–March 22 and move the seedlings out around May 10, after the last spring frost.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Fountain

An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Fountain’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at COLORADO SPRINGS MUNI AP, 13 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.

Cite this page
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Fountain, CO — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00093037. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/colorado/fountain.
When to Plant in Fountain, CO — Frost Dates & Zone 6a — BlissGarden