New Mexico Planting Calendar

Frost dates, growing zones, and planting dates for New Mexico gardeners.

Zone 4a Zone 4b Zone 5a Zone 5b Zone 6a Zone 6b Zone 7a Zone 7b Zone 8a Zone 8b

The Short Answer

New Mexico spans USDA zones 4a through 8b, which means planting dates vary significantly across the state. Northern New Mexico has an average last frost around May 5 - May 25, while Southern New Mexico sees its last frost around Mar 15 - Apr 5. Use our homepage tool with your zip code for dates specific to your exact location.

New Mexico Frost Dates by Region

High desert climate. Intense sun. Low humidity. Wide temperature swings day to night. Irrigation essential.

Region	Zones	Last Frost (Spring)	First Frost (Fall)
Northern New Mexico	4a, 4b, 5a, 5b	May 5 - May 25	Sep 15 - Oct 5
Central New Mexico (Albuquerque)	7a, 7b	Apr 1 - Apr 20	Oct 15 - Nov 5
Southern New Mexico	7b, 8a, 8b	Mar 15 - Apr 5	Oct 25 - Nov 15

Soil & Growing Conditions

Alkaline desert soils. Low organic matter. Caliche layers common. Heavy amendment with compost essential.

What to Plant in New Mexico

New Mexico's near-tropical climate means your growing calendar is inverted — cool-season crops in winter, heat-tolerant crops in summer, and tropical plants year-round:

Tropical & Heat Lovers (Year-Round)

Okra Sweet Potatoes Eggplant Basil

Cool-Season Window (Oct–Mar)

Tomatoes Peppers Lettuce Broccoli Carrots Kale Peas Spinach Beans (Green/Snap)Cucumbers

Browse all 100 plants — or enter your zip code for personalized planting dates.

Neighboring States

Gardeners near state borders may find useful information in neighboring state guides:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Note: Frost dates are based on NOAA 30-year Climate Normals and represent historical averages. Actual frost dates can vary significantly year to year. Zone data is from the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

Last reviewed: March 29, 2026