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Aurora, CO Planting Calendar & Frost Dates

USDA hardiness zone 6a · ZIP 80010 · elevation 1611′ · NOAA & USDA data

Aurora is in USDA hardiness zone 6a (winters can dip to -10 to -5°F), with a growing season of about 156 days between the average last spring frost (May 4) and first fall frost (October 8). The warmest month is July (avg high 90.2°F); the coldest is January (avg low 17.6°F). It averages 15.4″ of precipitation a year and 49″ of snow, mostly mid-winter. Start cool-season crops several weeks before the last frost; wait until after it for tomatoes, peppers and other tender crops.

Hardiness zone
6a
min temp -10 to -5°F
Last spring frost
May 4
avg (50% prob, 32°F)
First fall frost
October 8
avg (50% prob, 32°F)
Growing season
156 days
frost-free window
Warmest month
July
avg high 90.2°F

Month-by-month typical weather in Aurora

Average conditions from the NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals at Denver-stapleton, CO (1.7 mi away). Temperatures °F, precipitation & snow in inches.

MonthAvg highAvg lowMeanPrecip (in)Snow (in)
January 46.5 17.6 32.1 0.5 6.4
February 47.5 19.3 33.4 0.5 7.6
March 56.4 27.1 41.8 1.1 8.8
April 62.5 33.7 48.1 1.7 6.2
May 71.7 43.4 57.6 2.3 1.4
June 84.1 52.9 68.5 1.7 0
July 90.2 59.3 74.8 2.1 0
August 87.9 57.2 72.5 1.8 0
September 80.1 48.2 64.2 1.5 0.8
October 66.7 35.7 51.2 1 3.9
November 54.8 25.5 40.2 0.7 7.3
December 45.9 17.7 31.8 0.5 6.6

What to plant when in Aurora

CropSeasonWhat to do & when
TomatoeswarmStart seeds indoors: March 23 · Transplant out: May 11
PepperswarmStart seeds indoors: March 9 · Transplant out: May 18
CucumberswarmDirect sow: May 11
Zucchini / squashwarmDirect sow: May 11
Bush beanswarmDirect sow: May 11
Sweet cornwarmDirect sow: May 11
BasilwarmTransplant out: May 11
PeascoolSow (spring): March 30 · Sow (fall): August 13
SpinachcoolSow (spring): March 23 · Sow (fall): August 13
LettucecoolSow (spring): April 6 · Sow (fall): August 13
KalecoolTransplant (spring): April 13 · Sow (fall): July 30
BroccolicoolTransplant (spring): April 20
CarrotscoolSow (spring): April 13 · Sow (fall): July 30
OnionscoolTransplant (spring): April 6
PotatoescoolPlant seed potatoes: April 20
RadishescoolSow (spring): April 6 · Sow (fall): August 27

Dates are computed from Aurora's average frost dates using standard cool-/warm-season timing. They're a starting point — a cold spring, a warm microclimate, or a fast-maturing variety can shift them by a week or two.

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Gear that helps you plant on time

Some links below are Amazon affiliate links (tag theboringthin-20). If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — it keeps this almanac free. We only list generic, genuinely-useful categories.

Soil thermometer →Know when the ground is warm enough to sow — the honest signal, not the calendar.Seed-starting trays + dome →Start tomatoes & peppers indoors on the schedule below.Seedling heat mat →Warms the soil for faster, more even germination indoors.Floating row cover / frost cloth →Buys you 4–8°F to beat an early or late frost.Raised garden bed kit →Warms and drains faster in spring than in-ground soil.Garden gloves →Basic kit for transplant day.

Nearby cities in Colorado

Denver, COCommerce City, COWestminster, COLittleton, COArvada, COThornton, COBroomfield, COParker, CO

Sources & method. Hardiness zone: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University). Frost dates & growing season: NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, nearest station with published freeze normals — Denver-stapleton, CO, 1.7 mi (confidence: high). Monthly weather normals: Denver-stapleton, CO, 1.7 mi (confidence: high). ZIP centroid from U.S. Census 2023 ZCTA data. Frost dates are the 50%-probability date — half of years frost occurs outside the stated date. Nothing here is invented; where the nearest station is far, we say so. Last updated 2026-07-22.