What Grows in Acres Green, Colorado

USDA Zones 6a-7b · 385 acres

Acres Green, Colorado, sits in USDA hardiness zones 6a-7b — enough range to grow cool-season vegetables, hardy fruit, and warm-season crops that mature before the first hard frost.

The conditions favor colorado blue spruce, tomato, penstemon, and apple, among others — though every individual site edits that list with its own soil, sun, and drainage.

Score your parcel · free

Even in Acres Green, no two yards are alike.

A low spot, a south-facing slope, or a stand of trees moves the frost date and sun across a single Acres Green lot. Enter your address and we'll score 1,112 plants against your land's actual soil, sun, and frost.

We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.

No card required · your full report in seconds

Quick Facts

USDA Zones

6a-7b

Last Hard Freeze (28°F)

Apr 13

Town normal — light frosts run a few weeks later

First Hard Freeze (28°F)

Oct 28

Town normal — light frosts arrive a few weeks earlier

Town Area

385 acres

Hardiness Zone Range

6a
7b
3a (Cold)13b (Hot)

Zone maps are averages across Acres Green. Your yard's slope, trees, and frost pockets shift what actually grows — see your land's exact reading.

Soil varies lot by lot — soil types explained.

Is it too late to plant in Acres Green?

Too late for some crops, right on time for others — a growing season is a sequence, not a deadline. Cool-season crops can go in from around Mar 16; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Apr 13 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Oct 28 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. The tail of the season still works: sixty-day crops into late summer, quick greens after, garlic last of all.

Growing Challenges in Colorado

What an experienced grower plans around here — each one has a move.

Low annual rainfall (7-20 inches) means irrigation is essential nearly everywhere

Build the irrigation first — drip plus mulch makes a high-desert garden run on remarkably little water.

High altitude UV and temperature swings stress plants

Harden transplants gradually, shade-cloth their first high-sun week, and keep row covers handy for cold nights.

Very short growing season at elevation (60-90 frost-free days above 8,000 ft)

Above 8,000 feet, count your real frost-free days and choose varieties bred to finish inside them.

Alkaline soils (pH 7.5-8.5) limit acid-loving plants without amendment

A soil test tells you your actual pH — grow acid-lovers in containers of amended mix while the native ground grows everything else.

For cultivar selection, pest pressure, and planting-time guidance specific to Colorado, the Colorado State University Extension is the authoritative local source.

Environmental Intelligence

Understanding what's nearby helps you make informed decisions about where and how to grow.

Total Sites

2,057

within ~10 miles of Acres Green

Risk Level

High

Highest-severity

6 Superfund sites

Severity Distribution

within ~10 miles of Acres Green

High16Moderate592Low1,449

Highest-Severity Sites

Castle Pines Abandoned Drum
Superfund · Superfund (Non-NPL)
Castle Pines North Md
PFAS Sampling · PFAS Detected
Castle Pines Village Md
PFAS Sampling · PFAS Detected
Centennial Wsd
PFAS Sampling · PFAS Detected
Douglas County White Powder Chlorinating Agent
Superfund · Superfund (Non-NPL)

Know Before You Grow

  • Underground tanks can leak petroleum products. Soil testing near former gas stations is recommended.
  • Raised beds with imported soil can reduce exposure risk near brownfield sites.
  • Test well water for nitrates if you rely on a private well. Levels above 10 mg/L require treatment.
Free Report

Check your specific parcel in Acres Green

Get exact proximity distances to contamination sources for your specific parcel — plus soil, sun, drainage, and 1,112 plant recommendations.

Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:

Your soil pHYour frost-free daysYour sun & shade

We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.

25+ data sources analyzed in seconds

Your Specific Parcel Matters

Acres Green Average

  • USDA Zones 6a-7b
  • Generic soil type for the area
  • State-average frost dates

YOUR Parcel

  • Your exact hardiness zone
  • Your SSURGO soil type & pH
  • Your sun exposure, cast in 3D

See MY Growing Report

Free Report

Read your specific parcel in Acres Green

Pull a site-specific report for your exact address in Acres Green, Colorado — soil, sun, drainage, frost risk, and scored plant recommendations.

Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:

Your soil pHYour frost-free daysYour sun & shade

We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.

25+ data sources analyzed in seconds

Key Growing Facts for Acres Green, Colorado

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 6a-7b (USDA PHZM 2023)
  • Last Hard Freeze (28°F): Apr 13 (town normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can follow for a few weeks)
  • First Hard Freeze (28°F): Oct 28 (town normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can arrive a few weeks earlier)
  • Days Between Hard Freezes: ~198 (town normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals)
  • Land Area: 385 acres (US Census TIGER 2025)

Zone data: USDA ARS Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Climate data: NOAA NCEI. Boundaries: US Census TIGER/Line 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zone is Acres Green, Colorado?

Acres Green sits in USDA hardiness zones 6a-7b, per the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Zones reflect average annual extreme minimum temperatures from 1991–2020 weather data.

Is it too late to plant in Acres Green?

Too late for some crops, right on time for others — a growing season is a sequence, not a deadline. Cool-season crops can go in from around Mar 16; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Apr 13 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Oct 28 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. The tail of the season still works: sixty-day crops into late summer, quick greens after, garlic last of all.

When does frost risk typically end in Acres Green?

The last hard freeze (28°F) in Acres Green typically lands around Apr 13, per NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals — an earlier marker than the light-frost dates many planting charts quote. That marks the hard freeze, not the last light frost — light frosts can still bite for a few more weeks, so tender transplants usually wait another 2–3 weeks.

When is the first frost in Acres Green?

The first hard freeze (28°F) in Acres Green typically arrives around Oct 28, per NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals — the point most tender summer crops finish. Lighter frosts usually reach a couple of weeks earlier, so watch the forecast from late summer on and harvest or cover tender plants before the first cold night.

What vegetables grow in Acres Green?

Acres Green's zones 6a-7b support a wide range — strong performers include Colorado Blue Spruce, Tomato, Penstemon, Apple, and Peach. What actually takes on any one site comes down to its soil, sun, and drainage, and we score each plant against the real conditions at your address.

Which hardiness zone is Acres Green, really?

Officially, Acres Green sits in USDA zones 6a-7b (USDA PHZM 2023) — but a zone is a 30-year average of winter's coldest night across an area, and it can't see any one yard. A south-facing slope, a tree line, or a low frost pocket can shift a single site by half a zone either way, which is why neighboring gardeners often quote different numbers. We read the conditions at your exact address — soil, sun, slope, and frost — and score 1,112 plants against what's actually there.

Is the soil safe to grow vegetables in Acres Green?

The federal record around Acres Green runs heavier than most — 2,057 documented sites — so test the soil before planting food in the ground, and raised beds with clean imported soil grow well in the meantime. Even here, proximity to a documented site is information, not a diagnosis of any one yard; the contamination map shows exactly what's recorded and where.

How do I protect my plants from frost in Acres Green?

As the season closes around the first 28°F hard freeze near Oct 28 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals), a few moves buy time: cover tender plants with floating row cover or an old sheet on still, clear nights, water the soil the afternoon before a freeze so it holds warmth overnight, and harvest frost-tender crops like tomatoes, peppers, and basil before the first hard night. Hardy greens and root crops shrug off light frost and often sweeten after it, so leave them in.

Everything on this page is a Acres Green average. Your yard writes its own version — we read soil, sun, drainage, and frost at your exact address. Try it for 14 days — no card required.