What Grows in San Acacio, Colorado

USDA Zones 7a-8b · 804 acres

San Acacio, Colorado, sits in USDA hardiness zones 7a-8b — enough range to grow cool-season vegetables, hardy fruit, and warm-season crops that mature before the first hard frost.

Reliable performers under these conditions include colorado blue spruce, tomato, penstemon, and apple; what your own ground favors still comes down to its soil, sun, and drainage.

Score your parcel · free

Even in San Acacio, 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 San Acacio 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

7a-8b

Last Hard Freeze (28°F)

May 7

Town normal — light frosts run a few weeks later

First Hard Freeze (28°F)

Oct 9

Town normal — light frosts arrive a few weeks earlier

Town Area

804 acres

Hardiness Zone Range

7a
8b
3a (Cold)13b (Hot)

Zone maps are averages across San Acacio. 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 San Acacio?

Almost never — the real question is what to plant next. Cool-season crops can go in from around Apr 9; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near May 7 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Oct 9 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. Even past midsummer there is room for a true fall garden here, and garlic planted near the close carries the momentum into next year.

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

21

within ~10 miles of San Acacio

Risk Level

Low

Highest-severity

1 Toxics Release Inventory facility

Severity Distribution

within ~10 miles of San Acacio

High0Moderate11Low10

Highest-Severity Sites

Cb00307323cdb Dup1
Nitrate Monitoring · Well
Cb00307323cdb Dup1
Nitrate Monitoring · Well
Cc03207222cba
Nitrate Monitoring · Well
Cc03207222cba
Nitrate Monitoring · Well
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Nitrate Monitoring · Well

Know Before You Grow

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

Check your specific parcel in San Acacio

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

San Acacio Average

  • USDA Zones 7a-8b
  • 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 San Acacio

Pull a site-specific report for your exact address in San Acacio, 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 San Acacio, Colorado

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 7a-8b (USDA PHZM 2023)
  • Last Hard Freeze (28°F): May 7 (town normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can follow for a few weeks)
  • First Hard Freeze (28°F): Oct 9 (town normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can arrive a few weeks earlier)
  • Days Between Hard Freezes: ~155 (town normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals)
  • Land Area: 804 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 San Acacio, Colorado?

San Acacio sits in USDA hardiness zones 7a-8b, 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 San Acacio?

Almost never — the real question is what to plant next. Cool-season crops can go in from around Apr 9; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near May 7 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Oct 9 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. Even past midsummer there is room for a true fall garden here, and garlic planted near the close carries the momentum into next year.

When does frost risk typically end in San Acacio?

The last hard freeze (28°F) in San Acacio typically lands around May 7, 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 San Acacio?

The first hard freeze (28°F) in San Acacio typically arrives around Oct 9, 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 San Acacio?

San Acacio's zones 7a-8b 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 San Acacio, really?

Officially, San Acacio sits in USDA zones 7a-8b (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 San Acacio?

The federal record around San Acacio is light — 21 documented sites across the 9 federal source types we checked — and proximity to a documented site is information, not a diagnosis of any one yard. Growing food here starts from a strong position; a soil test before new food beds settles any site-specific question.

How do I protect my plants from frost in San Acacio?

As the season closes around the first 28°F hard freeze near Oct 9 (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 San Acacio 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.