When to plant pumpkins in Colorado

Pumpkins
Sow outdoors in Denver
May 18–Jun 1

Across Colorado the window opens between April 28 and May 24. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Sow outdoors, Denver
May 18–Jun 1
Last sowing for a harvest
May 27
Last frost, Denver
May 4

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks after the last frost. For Halloween pumpkins, count back the variety's days to maturity from late September.

Pumpkins planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
DenverMay 18–Jun 1
Colorado SpringsMay 17–May 31
AuroraMay 21–Jun 4
Fort CollinsMay 16–May 30
LakewoodMay 17–May 31
ThorntonMay 16–May 30
ArvadaMay 19–Jun 2
WestminsterMay 16–May 30
GreeleyMay 16–May 30
PuebloMay 14–May 28
CentennialMay 19–Jun 2
BoulderMay 20–Jun 3
LongmontMay 21–Jun 4
LovelandMay 24–Jun 7
BroomfieldMay 16–May 30
Commerce CityMay 17–May 31
Grand JunctionApr 28–May 12
LittletonMay 16–May 30
BrightonMay 17–May 31
WindsorMay 17–May 31
ErieMay 21–Jun 4
NorthglennMay 16–May 30
Security-WidefieldMay 17–May 31
EnglewoodMay 16–May 30
Pueblo WestMay 10–May 24
Wheat RidgeMay 19–Jun 2
LafayetteMay 16–May 30
FountainMay 17–May 31
EvansMay 16–May 30
JohnstownMay 24–Jun 7
All 34 cities
CitySow outdoorsLast frost
DenverMay 18 to Jun 1May 4
Colorado SpringsMay 17 to May 31May 3
AuroraMay 21 to Jun 4May 7
Fort CollinsMay 16 to May 30May 2
LakewoodMay 17 to May 31May 3
ThorntonMay 16 to May 30May 2
ArvadaMay 19 to Jun 2May 5
WestminsterMay 16 to May 30May 2
GreeleyMay 16 to May 30May 2
PuebloMay 14 to May 28Apr 30
CentennialMay 19 to Jun 2May 5
BoulderMay 20 to Jun 3May 6
LongmontMay 21 to Jun 4May 7
LovelandMay 24 to Jun 7May 10
BroomfieldMay 16 to May 30May 2
Commerce CityMay 17 to May 31May 3
Grand JunctionApr 28 to May 12Apr 14
LittletonMay 16 to May 30May 2
BrightonMay 17 to May 31May 3
WindsorMay 17 to May 31May 3
ErieMay 21 to Jun 4May 7
NorthglennMay 16 to May 30May 2
Security-WidefieldMay 17 to May 31May 3
EnglewoodMay 16 to May 30May 2
Pueblo WestMay 10 to May 24Apr 26
Wheat RidgeMay 19 to Jun 2May 5
LafayetteMay 16 to May 30May 2
FountainMay 17 to May 31May 3
EvansMay 16 to May 30May 2
JohnstownMay 24 to Jun 7May 10
Four Square MileMay 21 to Jun 4May 7
MontroseMay 12 to May 26Apr 28
LouisvilleMay 20 to Jun 3May 6
FirestoneMay 21 to Jun 4May 7

Questions

When should I plant pumpkins in Colorado?

In Denver, sow outdoors from May 18 to June 1. Across Colorado the window opens between April 28 and May 24, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Colorado

Pumpkins in other states

Frost dates for every city in Colorado