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Grand Junction, Colorado frost dates
Frost risk by date
| Chance of frost | Spring: frost after | Fall: frost before |
|---|---|---|
| 90% | April 11 | October 29 |
| 70% | April 21 | October 22 |
| 50% | April 28 | October 16 |
| 30% | May 3 | October 10 |
| 10% | May 14 | October 3 |
Read the spring column like this: there is a 10% chance of a 32°F freeze after May 14. These are NOAA probabilities for the Grand Junction Walker Fld weather station (USW00023066, elevation 1481 m), 1991–2020.
Grand Junction vegetable planting calendar
Dates count from the 50% last-frost date (April 28). For tomatoes, peppers and other frost-tender crops, waiting until the 10% date (May 14) is the cautious choice.
| Crop | Start seeds indoors | Plant out |
|---|---|---|
| Beans | Apr 7 | May 5 (usually sown directly in the garden) |
| Broccoli | Feb 17 | Mar 31 |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 17 | Mar 31 |
| Cabbage | Feb 10 | Mar 24 |
| Cauliflower | Mar 3 | Apr 14 |
| Sweet corn | Mar 31 | Apr 28 (usually sown directly in the garden) |
| Cucumbers | Apr 14 | May 5 |
| Kale | Feb 10 | Mar 24 |
| Leeks | Jan 13 | Mar 24 |
| Lettuce | Mar 10 | Apr 14 |
| Melons | Apr 21 | May 12 |
| Onions | Jan 6 | Mar 17 (from seed; sets and transplants go out at the same time) |
| Peas | Mar 3 | Mar 31 (usually sown directly in the garden) |
| Peppers | Mar 17 | May 12 |
| Squash | Apr 21 | May 12 |
| Tomatoes | Mar 3 | Apr 28 |
Offsets from Oregon State University Extension's seed-starting table. "Plant out" means transplant, or sow directly for crops usually grown from seed.
Fall frost and season extension
The first fall freeze usually arrives around October 16. There's a 1-in-10 chance it comes before October 3. Harvest tender crops such as basil, tomatoes, peppers and squash before then, or cover them on cold nights. Cool-season crops like kale, cabbage and Brussels sprouts handle light frost, and often taste sweeter after it. A hard freeze (28°F) typically comes around October 27.
Nearby cities
| City | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs, CO | May 3 | Oct 8 | ~334 km |
| Denver, CO | May 5 | Oct 9 | ~343 km |
| Salt Lake City, UT | Apr 8 | Oct 31 | ~347 km |
| Pueblo, CO | Apr 30 | Oct 9 | ~360 km |
| Cheyenne, WY | May 12 | Oct 1 | ~392 km |
| Santa Fe, NM | May 4 | Oct 15 | ~444 km |
More: all Colorado frost dates