When to plant in Montrose, CO
USDA Zone 6bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Montrose, Colorado — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
In zone 6b, Montrose gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
The average last spring frost in Montrose is now 7 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
MONTROSE #2 · 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 Montrose’s own odds, recorded at MONTROSE #2.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 23 | May 11 | Apr 28 | Sep 22 | Oct 3 | Oct 17 |
| 32°F | May 12 | Apr 28 | Apr 13 | Oct 1 | Oct 14 | Oct 27 |
| 28°F | Apr 30 | Apr 14 | Mar 29 | Oct 10 | Oct 24 | Nov 7 |
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 Montrose, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 17 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.
Montrose planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Montrose, CO?
Montrose's average last spring frost falls near April 28 — 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 Montrose, CO?
In Montrose, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 14 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Montrose in?
Montrose is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. In zone 6b, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Montrose?
Montrose has about 169 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 28) and first fall frost (October 14).
When should I plant tomatoes in Montrose?
For Montrose, sow tomatoes indoors about March 3–March 17 and move the seedlings out around May 5, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Montrose
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Montrose’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Clifton · 85 km
- Grand Junction · 92 km
- Fruita · 107 km
- Rifle · 119 km
- Glenwood Springs · 128 km
- Durango · 134 km
- Edwards · 166 km
- Farmington · 193 km
Frost dates recorded at MONTROSE #2, 3 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 Montrose, CO — Frost Dates & Zone 6b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00055722. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/colorado/montrose.