When to plant in Golden, CO
USDA Zone 5bGolden, Colorado frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Zone 5b means Golden sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
Frost probability
LAKEWOOD · 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 Golden’s own odds, recorded at LAKEWOOD.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 29 | May 14 | May 1 | Sep 16 | Sep 30 | Oct 12 |
| 32°F | May 18 | May 3 | Apr 19 | Sep 24 | Oct 7 | Oct 21 |
| 28°F | May 7 | Apr 22 | Apr 5 | Oct 1 | Oct 16 | Oct 30 |
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 Golden, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 10 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.
Golden planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Golden, CO?
Plan for the last spring frost in Golden around May 3 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Golden, CO?
Expect Golden's first fall frost near October 7 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Golden in?
Golden 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 Golden?
There are roughly 157 frost-free days in Golden (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around May 3 to the first fall frost near October 7.
When should I plant tomatoes in Golden?
In Golden, start tomato seeds indoors around March 8–March 22, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 10 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Golden
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Golden’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Lakewood · 9 km
- Wheat Ridge · 10 km
- Arvada · 11 km
- Dakota Ridge · 15 km
- Berkley · 17 km
- Westminster · 20 km
- Ken Caryl · 20 km
- Sherrelwood · 21 km
Frost dates recorded at LAKEWOOD, 8 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 Golden, CO — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00054762. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/colorado/golden.