When to plant peanut in Denver, Colorado

April 30 – May 14

Direct-sow outdoors · typical Denver year

Climate basis: NOAA station Denver Water Dept, CO (USC00052223), 2 mi (3 km) from downtown Denver (ZCTA 80202 centroid), elevation 5228 ft, on the 1991–2020 climate normals. Direct-sow peanut from approximately the dates above, anchored to the median last spring 32°F freeze (April 30). One year in ten still freezes after May 13.

Last spring freezeApril 301-in-10 after May 13
First fall freezeOctober 121-in-10 before Sep 28
Frost-free season165 daysmedian at 32°F
Hard freeze, 28°Apr 18Oct 21kills even hardy greens
USDA zone6a-10 to -5°F winter low not frost timing

The Denver year

Direct-sow outdoorsApr 30 – May 14
  • indoors under lights
  • in the garden
  • frost-free season
  • 1-in-10 years still freeze to May 13
Peanut in Denver · freeze context from Denver Water Dept, CO, 1991–2020 normals.

Every method, with its sources

Direct-sow outdoors

Apr 30 – May 14

Utah State Extension ties the peanut sowing trigger directly to the frost anchor — sow when soil temperatures are above 65°F, which it says is usually around the last frost — so the point rule opens the window at the last-frost date and runs 14 days. No source in this set offered an earlier-starting alternative to reconcile against. Anchored to the median last spring freeze (Apr 30). Utah State University Extension

Start seeds indoors

Not calculated

The cited extension guides do not time an indoor seed-starting window for this crop.

Transplant outdoors

Not calculated

The cited extension guides do not time an outdoor transplanting window for this crop.

Fall planting

Not calculated

No source-backed fall planting rule exists for this crop in the registry, so no fall window is calculated.

Variety assumption: Assumes a shorter-season Spanish or Valencia type sown in place; Arkansas Extension notes peanuts need a minimum of 120 frost-free days, so the crop is only viable where the anchor-to-anchor season exceeds that.

These windows describe typical years (1991–2020 climate normals), not this year's forecast. Freezes happen outside them — especially in frost pockets, valleys, and urban edges. Watch the forecast before committing tender plants.

This week, not a typical year:
Crop rule sources (1)

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