When to plant in Steamboat Springs, CO
USDA Zone 5bSteamboat Springs, Colorado frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
With only about 95 frost-free days, Steamboat Springs has a short season — start heat-lovers indoors early, favor quick-maturing varieties, and use row cover to stretch both ends. Zone 5b means Steamboat Springs sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
Frost probability
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS · 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 Steamboat Springs’s own odds, recorded at STEAMBOAT SPRINGS.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32°F | Jun 24 | Jun 9 | May 25 | Aug 31 | Sep 12 | Sep 24 |
| 28°F | Jun 6 | May 20 | May 2 | Sep 9 | Sep 23 | Oct 6 |
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 Steamboat Springs, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 37 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.
Steamboat Springs planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Steamboat Springs, CO?
Plan for the last spring frost in Steamboat Springs around June 9 (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 Steamboat Springs, CO?
The first fall frost in Steamboat Springs typically arrives around September 12 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Steamboat Springs in?
Steamboat Springs 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 Steamboat Springs?
There are roughly 95 frost-free days in Steamboat Springs (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around June 9 to the first fall frost near September 12.
When should I plant tomatoes in Steamboat Springs?
In Steamboat Springs, start tomato seeds indoors around April 14–April 28, then transplant seedlings outdoors around June 16 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Steamboat Springs
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Steamboat Springs’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Edwards · 98 km
- Glenwood Springs · 112 km
- Rifle · 132 km
- Laramie · 138 km
- Boulder · 143 km
- Gunbarrel · 147 km
- Fort Collins · 149 km
- Loveland · 149 km
Frost dates recorded at STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, 1 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 Steamboat Springs, CO — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00057936. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/colorado/steamboat-springs.