Cheyenne, WY Frost Dates
Average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and growing season length for Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Gardening in Cheyenne
Wyoming's capital sits at 6,000 feet on the High Plains, where wind is a constant companion and the growing season is a sprint, not a marathon. Cheyenne gardeners don't complain about conditions — they build windbreaks and get to work.
Wind is the defining feature. Sustained 30-40 mph winds are routine, desiccating soil and battering plants. Windbreaks — fences, hedges, walls — are the single most important garden infrastructure in Cheyenne. Your 130-day growing season and intense UV require short-season varieties started indoors. But the 300+ days of sunshine mean that sheltered gardens produce surprisingly well.
Frontier Days celebrates the Western heritage, and Cheyenne gardeners embody it — self-reliant, practical, and unfazed by conditions that would discourage softer cities. The Wyoming Horticulture Society connects High Plains gardeners across a state with more cattle than people.
What This Means for Cheyenne Gardeners
The average last spring frost in Cheyenne is around May 15, and the average first fall frost arrives around September 22. That gives you approximately 130 frost-free days to work with.
130 frost-free days means every warm day counts. Focus on cold-hardy crops that thrive in your moderate temperatures: kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, potatoes, and root vegetables. For warm-season crops, choose only the shortest-season varieties (sub-65-day tomatoes, 55-day beans) and start everything indoors. Season extension — row covers, cold frames, plastic mulch — isn't a luxury here, it's essential infrastructure.
These dates are based on NOAA 30-year Climate Normal data for the Cheyenne area. Your actual frost dates could shift 2-3 weeks in either direction in any given year. Learn more about our data sources.
What to Grow in Cheyenne
With 130 frost-free days, Cheyenne gardeners need to plan strategically — start warm-season crops indoors and choose short-season varieties. Cool-season crops are your strength, thriving in the moderate temperatures that define your growing window. Recommended starting points: kale, lettuce, peas, carrots, potatoes, radishes, garlic, and short-season tomatoes.
See the full Wyoming planting guide for all 40 plants: Wyoming Planting Calendar. Or enter your zip code for exact planting dates personalized to Cheyenne.
More About Zone 5A
Cheyenne is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5A, which means average annual extreme minimum temperatures between -20°F to -15°F. View the full Zone 5A planting guide.
See the complete planting calendar for Wyoming: Wyoming Planting Calendar.
Other Cities in Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
These dates are based on NOAA's 30-year Climate Normal data for the Cheyenne area. They represent historical averages, not predictions. In any given year, the actual last frost could be 2-3 weeks earlier or later. Microclimates within Cheyenne (urban heat islands, hilltops, low-lying valleys) can also shift your local frost dates by a week or more.
Start everything possible indoors — your 130-day season doesn't leave room for a slow start. Direct sow only the fastest, hardiest crops (radishes, lettuce, peas) 3-4 weeks before last frost (May 15). Choose short-season varieties for warm crops. Enter your zip code for exact dates.