Local planting guide · Mountain West
zip 80901
Colorado Springs is in USDA hardiness zone 6a, with average winter lows of -10°F to -5°F. The local growing season runs roughly 05/03 through 10/08 (~158 days). This zip falls within the Mountain West growing region.
- USDA zone
- 6a -10°F to -5°F
- Last spring frost
- 05/03
- First fall frost
- 10/08
- Growing season
- 158 days
- Compatible crops
- 87
- Growing region
- Mountain West
Right now in Colorado Springs
Week 18 priorities
On the docket: transplant out after last frost · direct sow after last frost. See the full calendar →
Gardening in Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs sits at high elevation in zone 6a, where winter lows reach -10 to -5°F and the growing season spans just 158 days between the last spring frost on May 3 and the first fall frost on October 8. That compressed timeline dominates planting decisions here. Summer crops like tomatoes and tender squash need to finish before early October; tender perennials won't survive the winter without protection. The climate's most reliable performers are cold-hardy fruit trees: apples, pears, stone fruits (peaches, plums, cherries), and persimmons all thrive when chosen for zone 6a hardiness. The elevation brings distinct advantages and obstacles. Intense sun and low humidity reduce fungal disease pressure compared to lower-altitude gardens, but the same dryness demands irrigation even in spring. High-elevation nights stay cool even in July and August, shortening the heat window that warm-season crops need. Hail is a genuine hazard; late spring and early summer storms can shred fruit and foliage.
Regional context · Mountain West
What the Mountain West brings to Colorado Springs
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 Colorado Springs
The May 3 frost date is late enough that fruit tree flowers (apple, pear, cherry, peach) often bloom before the last freeze arrives, making frost damage to blossoms a common spring setback. Replacement blooms may not set fruit, or set it too late to mature before October. A second persistent challenge is irrigation: the mountain environment's low humidity and sporadic precipitation patterns make supplemental watering essential; most water falls in spring and mid-summer, leaving dry gaps during critical growth periods. The third issue is hail. Late spring storms (May through early July) can strip leaves, scar developing fruit, and snap branches; while no timing strategy prevents it, awareness helps with crop selection and protective strategies.
Crops that grow in Colorado Springs
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 Colorado Springs
Year-view of seed starting, transplanting, planting, pruning, fertilizing, harvest, and pest-watch windows tuned to Colorado Springs's local frost dates.
Week ? · loading
This week in Colorado Springs, CO (zone 6a)
Quiet week in Colorado Springs, 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 Colorado Springs
First: wait until after May 3 to plant tender crops like tomatoes, peppers, basil, and warm-season squash. Even a week earlier risks frost damage and wasted seed or transplants. Choose varieties bred for short seasons; standard indeterminate tomato varieties often don't finish fruit before October 8. Second: select disease-resistant fruit tree varieties suited to zone 6a hardiness. Scab-resistant apples, fireblight-tolerant pears, and brown-rot-resistant stone fruits reduce maintenance and chemical inputs. Third: plan irrigation from the start. The mountain environment's low humidity and sporadic rainfall make drip systems or soaker hoses more valuable than in wetter regions; water deeply in early morning before the intense sun and dry winds peak.
Frequently asked questions
- Which fruit trees grow most reliably in Colorado Springs?
Apples, pears, peaches, plums, cherries, and American persimmons are all hardy to zone 6a. Choose varieties rated for zone 6a hardiness and select disease-resistant cultivars; scab-resistant apples and fireblight-tolerant pears perform especially well in the low-humidity mountain environment.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Colorado Springs?
After May 3, when the last spring frost typically passes. Choose determinate or short-season indeterminate varieties; most standard indeterminate types don't finish fruit before October 8. Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your transplant date to maximize the 158-day growing window.
- How do I protect fruit tree blossoms from late spring frosts?
Early-blooming fruit trees (peaches, apples, pears) often flower before May 3. Frost cloth or burlap thrown over the canopy at sunset on forecast cold nights offers temporary protection; remove it the next morning. In severely frost-prone areas, consider late-blooming varieties if available, though the tradeoff is shorter time to fruit maturity.
- Why do my fruit trees need so much water in Colorado Springs?
The low humidity and intense sun accelerate evaporation from soil and leaves, while precipitation is concentrated in spring and mid-summer, leaving dry gaps during critical growth periods. Drip irrigation delivering 1 to 2 inches per week during the growing season is more reliable than relying on rainfall alone.
- What should I do about hail damage to fruit and foliage?
Hail netting is expensive and logistically difficult for home orchards. Instead, focus on post-hail care: prune severely shredded branches to prevent disease entry, water stressed plants deeply, and accept that some seasons will yield less fruit. Choose locations with some wind protection if possible.
- Is fall or spring the better time to plant fruit trees in Colorado Springs?
Fall planting (September through October) is preferred; trees establish roots through autumn and spring, avoiding the stress of hot, dry summers as newly planted trees. Spring planting (April, before May 3) works but requires careful watering through a hot first summer.
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Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00093037. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
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