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

Planting zone for Albuquerque, NM

Albuquerque, NM is in USDA zones 7b to 8a across its 40 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 18 and the first fall frost October 24.

Albuquerque on the zone map

Outlined: its 19 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.

Zones7b–8a5 to 15 °F
ZIP codes40
Last frostApr 18
First frostOct 24
Growing season189 days

7b 35 ZIPs   8a 5 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Albuquerque, 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 Albuquerque, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 18median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 3only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 24median — 10% chance by Oct 13
Growing season189 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 31 and returns around November 2.

From the NOAA station Albuquerque Valley, NM, elevation 4,954 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 Albuquerque

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 28
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 2 – May 16
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 29 – Sep 12
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 10 – Nov 14
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 18) and first fall frost (Oct 24) 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 87102 came on Feb 15 — 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 3).

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 7b in New Mexico

535 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New Mexico, and rated by the USDA to survive 5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7b. 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 103

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 229

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 166

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 Albuquerque, NM.

Soil in Albuquerque, NM

The center of ZIP 87102 is mapped as Cut and fill land: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 87102; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Albuquerque, NM

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low26 °Faverage low, January
Hot days64days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights93nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,250base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 31 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 48 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation10.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 48 °F, low 26 °F 48°26° JanFebruary: average high 54 °F, low 30 °F 54°30° FebMarch: average high 63 °F, low 36 °F 63°36° MarApril: average high 70 °F, low 43 °F 70°43° AprMay: average high 80 °F, low 52 °F 80°52° MayJune: average high 90 °F, low 62 °F 90°62° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 67 °F 91°67° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 65 °F 89°65° AugSeptember: average high 83 °F, low 58 °F 83°58° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 46 °F 71°46° OctNovember: average high 57 °F, low 34 °F 57°34° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 27 °F 47°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″January: 0.42 in precipitation 0.4 JanFebruary: 0.45 in precipitation 0.5 FebMarch: 0.50 in precipitation 0.5 MarApril: 0.57 in precipitation 0.6 AprMay: 0.46 in precipitation 0.5 MayJune: 0.63 in precipitation 0.6 JunJuly: 1.78 in precipitation 1.8 JulAugust: 1.87 in precipitation 1.9 AugSeptember: 1.40 in precipitation 1.4 SepOctober: 1.09 in precipitation 1.1 OctNovember: 0.62 in precipitation 0.6 NovDecember: 0.65 in precipitation 0.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Albuquerque Intl Airport, NM (3 mi away); precipitation: Albuquerque 4.3 Ssw, NM (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Albuquerque

871017b
5 to 10 °F
871027b
5 to 10 °F
871037b
5 to 10 °F
871047b
5 to 10 °F
871057b
5 to 10 °F
871068a
10 to 15 °F
871077b
5 to 10 °F
871088a
10 to 15 °F
871097b
5 to 10 °F
871107b
5 to 10 °F
871117b
5 to 10 °F
871127b
5 to 10 °F
871137b
5 to 10 °F
871147b
5 to 10 °F
871167b
5 to 10 °F
871198a
10 to 15 °F
871207b
5 to 10 °F
871217b
5 to 10 °F
871227b
5 to 10 °F
871237b
5 to 10 °F
871257b
5 to 10 °F
871517b
5 to 10 °F
871537b
5 to 10 °F
871547b
5 to 10 °F
871587b
5 to 10 °F
871767b
5 to 10 °F
871817b
5 to 10 °F
871847b
5 to 10 °F
871858a
10 to 15 °F
871877b
5 to 10 °F
871907b
5 to 10 °F
871917b
5 to 10 °F
871927b
5 to 10 °F
871937b
5 to 10 °F
871947b
5 to 10 °F
871957b
5 to 10 °F
871967b
5 to 10 °F
871977b
5 to 10 °F
871988a
10 to 15 °F
871997b
5 to 10 °F

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about Albuquerque

What planting zone is Albuquerque, NM?

Albuquerque, NM is in USDA hardiness zones 7b to 8a on the 2023 map (7b: 5 to 10 °F; 8a: 10 to 15 °F).

When is the last frost in Albuquerque, NM?

The median last spring frost is April 18 and the median first fall frost is October 24 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Albuquerque Valley station).

When can I plant a garden in Albuquerque, NM?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 7 – Mar 28; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 25, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Albuquerque, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 31 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Albuquerque, NM get?

About 10.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).