Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Alamogordo, NM

Alamogordo, NM is in USDA zone 8a across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 22 and the first fall frost October 22.

Alamogordo on the zone map

Outlined: its 2 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostApr 22
First frostOct 22
Growing season183 days

8a 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Alamogordo, NM…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Alamogordo, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 22median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 22median — 10% chance by Oct 10
Growing season183 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 8 and returns around October 31.

From the NOAA station White Sands Natl Mon, NM, elevation 4,006 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Alamogordo

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Apr 1
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 29 – May 13
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 6 – May 20
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 27 – Sep 10
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 8 – Nov 12
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 22) and first fall frost (Oct 22) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 88311 came on Feb 9 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 11).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 8a in New Mexico

542 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New Mexico, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 29

Arizona cypress50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °FArizona madrone30 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −4 °FArizona sycamore80 ft · blooms early spring · high shade tolerance · to −8 °FArizona walnut50 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −33 °Fblack locust60 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −37 °Fblack walnut100 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °F

Shrubs 104

alderleaf mountain mahogany15 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −41 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican tarwort3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −23 °Fantelope bitterbrush6 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −36 °FApache plume6 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −23 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 232

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine mountainsorrel1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °FAmerican alpine speedwell1 ft · blooms summer · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican bistort1.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 167

alkali cordgrass3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °Fanalogue sedge1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Farctic bluegrass2 ft · high shade tolerance · to −62 °FArizona cottontop4 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °F

Vines 1

western white clematis1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Alamogordo, NM.

Soil in Alamogordo, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 88311 is Holloman — very fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureVery fine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.9alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Holloman-Gypsum land complex, 0 to 1 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 88311; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Alamogordo, NM

Summer high94 °Faverage high, June
Winter low33 °Faverage low, January
Hot days89days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights55nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,414base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 19 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 59 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation10.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall2 inper year

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 55 °F, low 33 °F 55°33° JanFebruary: average high 60 °F, low 37 °F 60°37° FebMarch: average high 68 °F, low 43 °F 68°43° MarApril: average high 76 °F, low 51 °F 76°51° AprMay: average high 85 °F, low 59 °F 85°59° MayJune: average high 94 °F, low 68 °F 94°68° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 70 °F 93°70° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 68 °F 91°68° AugSeptember: average high 86 °F, low 63 °F 86°63° SepOctober: average high 75 °F, low 51 °F 75°51° OctNovember: average high 64 °F, low 41 °F 64°41° NovDecember: average high 54 °F, low 33 °F 54°33° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″January: 0.68 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 0.7❄1 JanFebruary: 0.59 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 0.6 FebMarch: 0.33 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 0.3 MarApril: 0.27 in precipitation 0.3 AprMay: 0.46 in precipitation 0.5 MayJune: 0.56 in precipitation 0.6 JunJuly: 1.62 in precipitation 1.6 JulAugust: 1.96 in precipitation 2.0 AugSeptember: 1.49 in precipitation 1.5 SepOctober: 1.01 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.0 OctNovember: 0.56 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 0.6 NovDecember: 1.10 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 1.1❄1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Alamogordo, NM (7 mi away); precipitation: Alamogordo, NM (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Alamogordo

883108a
10 to 15 °F
883118a
10 to 15 °F

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about Alamogordo

What planting zone is Alamogordo, NM?

Alamogordo, NM is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map (8a: 10 to 15 °F).

When is the last frost in Alamogordo, NM?

The median last spring frost is April 22 and the median first fall frost is October 22 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, White Sands Natl Mon station).

When can I plant a garden in Alamogordo, NM?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 11 – Apr 1; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 29, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Alamogordo, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 19 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Alamogordo, NM get?

About 10.6 inches of precipitation a year and 2 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).