When Is the Last Frost in New Mexico?
The average last spring frost in New Mexico falls between March 29 and May 29 for most ZIP codes, with a statewide median of May 2. At the average date a later frost is still a coin flip, so tender plants wait for the safer 90% date.
| City | Last frost | 90% safe after | First frost | Growing season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | Apr 23 | May 6 | Oct 20 | 179 days |
| Las Cruces | Mar 12 | Apr 2 | Nov 13 | 241 days |
| Rio Rancho | Apr 16 | May 2 | Oct 23 | 191 days |
| Santa Fe | May 2 | May 14 | Oct 17 | 167 days |
| Roswell | Mar 29 | Apr 15 | Nov 7 | 223 days |
| Farmington | May 2 | May 18 | Oct 13 | 160 days |
| Hobbs | Mar 28 | Apr 13 | Nov 10 | 225 days |
| Clovis | Apr 14 | Apr 26 | Oct 29 | 197 days |
| Carlsbad | Apr 6 | Apr 25 | Nov 1 | 206 days |
| Alamogordo | Mar 9 | Mar 31 | Nov 18 | 251 days |
| Gallup | May 31 | Jun 14 | Sep 28 | 119 days |
| Los Lunas | Apr 23 | May 6 | Oct 21 | 178 days |
| Sunland Park | Mar 23 | Apr 9 | Nov 11 | 231 days |
| Deming | Apr 7 | Apr 25 | Nov 3 | 208 days |
| Las Vegas | May 28 | Jun 10 | Sep 26 | 119 days |
| Artesia | Apr 1 | Apr 17 | Nov 6 | 218 days |
| Portales | Apr 15 | Apr 30 | Oct 26 | 193 days |
| Lovington | Apr 19 | May 2 | Oct 26 | 188 days |
| Taos | May 19 | May 31 | Oct 3 | 136 days |
Last and first frost: 50% (median) dates of the last spring and first fall 32 °F night. 90% safe after: only a 10% chance of a later spring frost. First frost dates in January fall in the following winter. Each city uses the NOAA station nearest the ZIP code closest to its center.
Across all 175 New Mexico weather stations with frost records, median last frost dates run from March 9 at Alamogordo, NM to June 19 at Red River, NM. Elevation, valleys that collect cold air and distance from large water bodies explain most of the spread, so a garden a few miles from a listed city can differ by a week or more. The ZIP code lookup above uses the same NOAA data as the frost date calculator for every US ZIP code.
When Is the First Frost in New Mexico?
The average first fall frost in New Mexico arrives between September 27 and November 7 for most ZIP codes, with a median of October 16. Tomatoes, peppers, basil and squash are damaged at 32 °F, so harvest or cover them before then.
Fall frost can come early: Albuquerque has a 10% chance of frost before October 8, Las Cruces has a 10% chance of frost before October 30 and Rio Rancho has a 10% chance of frost before October 12. Hardy crops such as kale, spinach and cabbage tolerate light frosts and keep producing after the first frost date.
When to Plant Tomatoes in New Mexico?
Transplant tomatoes in New Mexico 1 to 2 weeks after the local average last frost, once nights stay above about 50 °F: Apr 30 – May 7 in Albuquerque, Mar 19 – Mar 26 in Las Cruces and Apr 23 – Apr 30 in Rio Rancho. Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost.
| City | Start seeds indoors | Transplant outdoors | Lowest-risk transplant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Apr 30 – May 7 | after May 6 |
| Las Cruces | Jan 15 – Jan 29 | Mar 19 – Mar 26 | after Apr 2 |
| Rio Rancho | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Apr 23 – Apr 30 | after May 2 |
| Santa Fe | Mar 7 – Mar 21 | May 9 – May 16 | after May 14 |
| Roswell | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 5 – Apr 12 | after Apr 15 |
| Farmington | Mar 7 – Mar 21 | May 9 – May 16 | after May 18 |
| Hobbs | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Apr 4 – Apr 11 | after Apr 13 |
| Clovis | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | Apr 21 – Apr 28 | after Apr 26 |
| Carlsbad | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | Apr 13 – Apr 20 | after Apr 25 |
| Alamogordo | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Mar 16 – Mar 23 | after Mar 31 |
| Gallup | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | Jun 7 – Jun 14 | after Jun 14 |
| Los Lunas | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Apr 30 – May 7 | after May 6 |
| Sunland Park | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Mar 30 – Apr 6 | after Apr 9 |
| Deming | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | Apr 14 – Apr 21 | after Apr 25 |
| Las Vegas | Apr 2 – Apr 16 | Jun 4 – Jun 11 | after Jun 10 |
| Artesia | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 8 – Apr 15 | after Apr 17 |
| Portales | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 22 – Apr 29 | after Apr 30 |
| Lovington | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Apr 26 – May 3 | after May 2 |
| Taos | Mar 24 – Apr 7 | May 26 – Jun 2 | after May 31 |
Indoors: 6–8 weeks before the average last frost. Outdoors: 1–2 weeks after it. Lowest-risk: after the date with only a 10% chance of a later frost. Rules of thumb; check the 10-day forecast and wait for soil near 60 °F.
Tomatoes stall below about 50 °F at night and are killed by frost, so a week or two of waiting after the average date costs little. The tomato plant care guide covers light, watering and feeding once plants are in the ground.
What Can You Plant in Albuquerque and When?
Albuquerque's average last frost of April 23 anchors its spring planting calendar: peas and spinach go in from March 12, broccoli and lettuce transplants from March 26, and tomatoes, peppers and squash after April 30.
| Crop | Start seeds indoors | Plant outdoors | Frost tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peas | — | Mar 12 – Mar 26direct sow, 4–6 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Spinach | — | Mar 12 – Apr 2direct sow, 3–6 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Radishes | — | Mar 19 – Apr 2direct sow, 3–5 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Onions (sets) | — | Mar 26 – Apr 9plant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 26 – Apr 9plant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | half-hardy |
| Broccoli & cabbage | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Mar 26 – Apr 9transplant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Lettuce | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | Mar 26 – Apr 9transplant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Beets | — | Mar 26 – Apr 9direct sow, 2–4 weeks before last frost | half-hardy |
| Carrots | — | Apr 2 – Apr 9direct sow, 2–3 weeks before last frost | half-hardy |
| Tomatoes | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Apr 30 – May 7transplant, 1–2 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Basil | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Apr 30 – May 14transplant, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Peppers | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | May 7 – May 14transplant, 2–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Eggplant | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | May 7 – May 14transplant, 2–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Green beans | — | Apr 30 – May 14direct sow, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Sweet corn | — | Apr 30 – May 14direct sow, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Cucumbers | Mar 26 – Apr 2 | Apr 30 – May 14transplant, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Squash & zucchini | Mar 26 – Apr 2 | Apr 30 – May 14transplant, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Watermelon | Mar 26 – Apr 2 | May 7 – May 14transplant, 2–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
Dates for Albuquerque (last frost Apr 23, NOAA station Rio Grande Nature Ctr, NM, 3 miles from ZIP 87101). General rules of thumb; wait for soil near 50 °F for most seeds and 60 °F for beans, corn and squash.
How Long Is the Growing Season in New Mexico?
The frost-free growing season in New Mexico lasts about 119 to 223 days for most ZIP codes, with a median of 166 days. Among the listed cities, Gallup has the shortest season at 119 days and Alamogordo the longest at 251.
Season length decides which varieties ripen: compare it with the “days to maturity” on seed packets, counted from transplanting for tomatoes and peppers. NOAA stations in New Mexico range from 77 days at Red River, NM to 251 days at Alamogordo, NM. Planning beds before the season starts helps in short seasons — a plant spacing calculator for vegetable beds shows how many transplants fit.
What Hardiness Zones Are in New Mexico?
New Mexico spans USDA hardiness zones 5a to 8b, with zone 7b the most common. Zones describe winter cold and decide which perennials survive, while frost dates set when to plant annual vegetables and flowers.
The New Mexico planting zone map with the zone of each city shows how the zones are spread across the state and which plants are hardy in all of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is the last frost in New Mexico?
- The average last spring frost in New Mexico falls between March 29 and May 29 for most ZIP codes, with a statewide median of May 2. Among major cities it ranges from March 9 in Alamogordo to May 31 in Gallup.
- When is the last frost in Albuquerque, New Mexico?
- Albuquerque's average last spring frost is April 23, and by May 6 the chance of a later frost drops to 10%. Its first fall frost averages October 20, giving a 179-day growing season (NOAA station Rio Grande Nature Ctr, NM).
- When should you plant tomatoes in New Mexico?
- Transplant tomatoes in New Mexico 1 to 2 weeks after the local average last frost, once nights stay above about 50 °F: Apr 30 – May 7 in Albuquerque, Mar 19 – Mar 26 in Las Cruces and Apr 23 – Apr 30 in Rio Rancho. Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost.
- When is the first frost in New Mexico?
- The average first fall frost in New Mexico arrives between September 27 and November 7 for most ZIP codes, with a median of October 16. Harvest tender crops such as tomatoes, peppers and basil before then or cover them on cold nights.
- How long is the growing season in New Mexico?
- The frost-free growing season in New Mexico lasts about 119 to 223 days for most ZIP codes, with a median of 166 days, from 119 days in Gallup to 251 days in Alamogordo.
Frost data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals (32 °F freeze dates by probability). ZIP code and city locations and populations: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer files and Vintage 2024 population estimates. Planting windows are general rules of thumb. PlantoScan is not affiliated with or endorsed by these agencies.