Local planting guide · Mountain West
zip 80112
Englewood is in USDA hardiness zone 6a, with average winter lows of -10°F to -5°F. The local growing season runs roughly 05/05 through 10/08 (~154 days). This zip falls within the Mountain West growing region.
- USDA zone
- 6a -10°F to -5°F
- Last spring frost
- 05/05
- First fall frost
- 10/08
- Growing season
- 154 days
- Compatible crops
- 87
- Growing region
- Mountain West
Right now in Englewood
Week 18 priorities
On the docket: transplant out after last frost · direct sow after last frost. See the full calendar →
Gardening in Englewood
Gardening in Englewood operates at the intersection of zone 6a cold and Colorado's semi-arid climate. Winter minimums reach -10 to -5°F, cold enough to exclude tender perennials but not so extreme as to limit the crop palette. The 154-day growing season is moderate; it supports apples, pears, stone fruits, and even American persimmon if variety selection is thoughtful. The dominant constraint is not winter cold but spring timing. A last-frost date of May 5 is late enough to catch gardeners who plant too early, yet warm enough to trigger fruit tree bud break in late April. April frosts frequently kill the buds of peaches and cherries before they flower. Water scarcity defines the second half of the season. Summer rainfall is unreliable, especially at elevation; consistent irrigation becomes essential in June and July when fruit trees flower and set. The sample crops for Englewood (apple, pear, peach, plum, cherry, persimmon) reflect what thrives with careful variety selection. European plum and sour cherry are notably reliable; peach is higher-risk but possible with late-blooming varieties.
Regional context · Mountain West
What the Mountain West brings to Englewood
High elevation, dry air, intense sun, big diurnal swings. Short cool growing season at altitude; longer hot one in valleys. Strong fruit production in irrigated river corridors.
Common challenges
Issues that most often defeat home gardeners in zone 6a, drawn from the broader USDA zone profile.
- ▸ Brown rot in stone fruit
- ▸ Japanese beetles
- ▸ Spring frost damage to peach buds
What defeats new gardeners in Englewood
Spring frost damage is the defining challenge. Fruit tree buds break early in warm April weather, only to be killed by frosts that still occur through May. Peaches suffer the most; sour cherry and European plum are more forgiving. A second problem is the compressed window for warm-season crops. Tomatoes and peppers must mature by October 8 (the first-fall-frost date), leaving only 155 days from transplant to first ripe fruit. Late varieties or direct-seeded tomatoes often fail to ripen fully. The third issue is water availability. Summer moisture is sporadic; without supplemental irrigation, fruit trees drop immature fruit during flowering and setting, and vegetables wilt during the hottest weeks. Mulch helps retain soil moisture and buffer temperature swings, but it is not enough on its own.
Crops that grow in Englewood
87 crops from our catalog match zone 6a, grouped by type.
Tree fruit
12 crops
zone 6a Apple
Malus domestica
zones 3a–9a
zone 6a Pear
Pyrus communis
zones 4a–8b
zone 6a Peach
Prunus persica
zones 5a–9a
zone 6a European Plum
Prunus domestica
zones 4a–8a
zone 6a Japanese Plum
Prunus salicina
zones 5b–9a
zone 6a Sweet Cherry
Prunus avium
zones 5a–8a
zone 6a Sour Cherry
Prunus cerasus
zones 4a–7b
zone 6a American Persimmon
Diospyros virginiana
zones 4b–9a
Berries
20 crops
zone 6a Highbush Blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum
zones 4a–7b
zone 6a Lowbush Blueberry
Vaccinium angustifolium
zones 3a–6b
zone 6a Red Raspberry
Rubus idaeus
zones 3b–8a
zone 6a Black Raspberry
Rubus occidentalis
zones 4a–8a
zone 6a Yellow Raspberry
Rubus idaeus
zones 3b–8a
zone 6a Blackberry
Rubus subgenus Rubus
zones 5a–9a
zone 6a June-Bearing Strawberry
Fragaria x ananassa
zones 3a–8b
zone 6a Everbearing Strawberry
Fragaria x ananassa
zones 3b–9a
Nuts
6 crops
Vegetables
40 crops
zone 6a Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum
zones 3a–10b
zone 6a Sweet Pepper
Capsicum annuum
zones 4a–10b
zone 6a Hot Pepper
Capsicum species
zones 4a–10b
zone 6a Eggplant
Solanum melongena
zones 5a–10b
zone 6a Potato
Solanum tuberosum
zones 3a–9a
zone 6a Cabbage
Brassica oleracea var. capitata
zones 3a–9b
zone 6a Broccoli
Brassica oleracea var. italica
zones 3a–9a
zone 6a Cauliflower
Brassica oleracea var. botrytis
zones 3b–9a
Herbs
9 crops
zone 6a Basil
Ocimum basilicum
zones 4a–10b
zone 6a Parsley
Petroselinum crispum
zones 3b–9b
zone 6a Cilantro / Coriander
Coriandrum sativum
zones 3b–9b
zone 6a Dill
Anethum graveolens
zones 3b–9a
zone 6a Oregano
Origanum vulgare
zones 4a–9b
zone 6a Thyme
Thymus vulgaris
zones 4a–9a
zone 6a Sage
Salvia officinalis
zones 4a–9a
zone 6a Mint
Mentha species
zones 3b–9b
Plan the year
Planting calendar for Englewood
Year-view of seed starting, transplanting, planting, pruning, fertilizing, harvest, and pest-watch windows tuned to Englewood's local frost dates.
Week ? · loading
This week in Englewood, CO (zone 6a)
Quiet week in Englewood, CO (zone 6a). this week is a good time to step back and plan ahead.
Nothing critical on the calendar this week.
434 bars · 87 crops
Calendar logic combines NOAA frost normals with crop-specific timing data. Local microclimate and weather always overrules the calendar; use this as a starting point.
Top pests for zone 6a
Ranked by how many crops in your zone they affect. Click through for IPM controls and signs to watch for.
Multiple species (Aphididae)
Small soft-bodied sap-sucking insects that reproduce explosively in spring. Excrete honeydew that supports sooty mold and attracts ants. Transmit viral diseases.
Odocoileus species
Whitetail and mule deer browse can devastate orchards and gardens, particularly in winter when food is scarce. Antler rub on young trunks kills saplings outright.
Multiple species
Robins, catbirds, mockingbirds, starlings, cedar waxwings and other songbirds can strip ripening berry and fruit crops in days. Crows and blackbirds also damage fresh sweet corn ears in milk stage. The single biggest yield-loss factor in unprotected home plantings.
Sylvilagus and Lepus species
Cottontails and jackrabbits strip bark from young fruit trees in winter and graze tender garden vegetables year-round, especially seedlings.
Popillia japonica
Defoliating beetle introduced to North America in 1916. Skeletonizes leaves of many fruit trees, berry canes, and pecan.
Multiple species (Chrysomelidae)
Tiny black or bronze jumping beetles that put hundreds of small holes in seedling leaves. Most damaging on direct-seeded brassicas and young eggplant.
Tetranychus urticae
Tiny mite that feeds on leaf undersides, causing stippling and webbing during hot dry weather.
Microtus species
Field voles and meadow voles girdle young fruit-tree trunks under snow cover during winter and chew root crops. The leading cause of mysterious orchard losses.
Top diseases for zone 6a
Ranked by how many crops in your zone they affect. Click through for symptoms, controls, and resistant varieties.
Botrytis cinerea
Ubiquitous fungal disease that causes fruit rot during cool wet weather, often the dominant berry disease in humid regions.
Pseudoperonospora cubensis (cucurbits) and others
Water mold (oomycete, not a true fungus) that thrives in cool damp conditions. Spreads rapidly through cucurbit and brassica plantings on wind-borne spores.
Pythium and Rhizoctonia species
Soil-borne complex of water molds and fungi that kill seedlings before or shortly after emergence. The single most common cause of seed-starting failures.
Cucumber mosaic virus, Tobacco mosaic virus, and others
Family of plant viruses producing mottled yellow-and-green leaf patterns. Vectored primarily by aphids; some are seed-transmitted or spread by handling tools and tobacco products.
Agrobacterium tumefaciens
Soil-borne bacterium that enters plants through wounds and induces tumor-like galls on roots, crown, and lower stems. Galls reduce vigor and shorten plant lifespan; on Rubus the disease is often fatal.
Fusarium oxysporum
Soil-borne fungal disease that plugs vascular tissue and kills affected plants. Persists in soil for many years; impossible to eliminate once established.
Sclerotium rolfsii
Soil-borne fungal disease most damaging in warm humid Southern conditions. White mycelial fans and small mustard-seed-sized sclerotia at the soil line are diagnostic.
Plasmodiophora brassicae
Soil-borne disease causing characteristic distorted club-shaped roots on brassicas. Persists in soil for 10-20 years; the dominant brassica pathogen in acidic poorly-drained soils.
Companion planting suggestions
Beneficial pairings drawn from companion data, filtered to crops that grow in zone 6a.
- Peach + Garlic
Garlic planted around peach trees suppresses peach borer and provides general fungal-pressure reduction.
- European Plum + Garlic
Garlic discourages plum curculio and provides general antifungal benefit beneath stone fruit.
- American Persimmon + Pawpaw
Both natives thrive in similar soils and contribute to a polyculture that supports native pollinators and fauna.
- Jujube + Thyme
Thyme groundcover suits jujube's low-water profile and deters cabbage moth and aphid populations.
- Apricot + Basil
Basil's volatile oils discourage stone-fruit pests and support pollinator visits.
- Highbush Blueberry + Thyme
Creeping thyme thrives in the acidic mulched conditions blueberries require and attracts pollinators during bloom.
Soil types reference
Soil texture and pH decide what grows easily on your specific lot. Find the closest match below for crop recommendations and amendment guidance.
Practical tips for Englewood
Start tomatoes and peppers indoors by early April to provide 6 to 8 weeks of growth before transplanting after the May 5 last-frost date. This early transplant is essential; direct-seeding in May compresses the growing window too much for larger varieties to ripen. Second, select fruit tree varieties specifically rated for zone 6a, with emphasis on late-blooming types if possible. Peach is high-risk without careful variety selection; European plum and sour cherry are lower-risk for consistent bearing. Third, plan irrigation from the start. Drip systems are more water-efficient than overhead watering in this low-humidity climate, and consistent moisture during fruit set and ripening prevents stress-related fruit drop, split fruit, and blossom-end rot.
Frequently asked questions
- What fruit trees grow most reliably in Englewood?
Apples and pears are the safest choices; both handle the cold and are less vulnerable to spring frost damage than peaches. Sour cherries and European plums also perform consistently. Peaches can work with late-blooming varieties, but expect occasional total crop loss.
- When should I start tomatoes in Englewood?
Seed indoors in early April, transplant outdoors after May 5 (the last spring-frost date). Early transplants mature by the October 8 first-frost date. Direct seeding in May leaves insufficient time for most varieties to ripen before frost.
- How do I protect spring fruit tree blossoms from late frost?
Plant on higher ground where cold air drains away; low-lying areas are frost pockets. If buds have already broken, frost cloth or sprinkler irrigation during freeze events can help, though neither is foolproof or practical for large trees.
- Why is irrigation critical in Englewood?
The area receives limited summer rainfall and low humidity, especially at elevation. Water stress during fruit set and ripening causes fruit drop, cracking, and reduced yield. Drip irrigation is more efficient than hand watering or sprinklers in this dry climate.
- Can peppers grow in this area?
Yes, with an early start. Seed indoors in March, transplant after May 5, and expect harvest through late September. Hot peppers mature faster than sweet bells; choose varieties bred for shorter growing seasons.
- What is the biggest weather risk in Englewood?
Late-spring frosts killing fruit tree buds are the most common and damaging. Early fall frost in late September or early October is a close second, cutting off the tomato and pepper season. Row covers or cold frames can extend the fall harvest by 2 to 3 weeks.
+−
+−
+−
+−
+−
+−
Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00093067. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
Related