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

Planting zone for Gallup, NM

Gallup, NM is in USDA zone 6a across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 31 and the first fall frost September 28.

Gallup 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
ZIP codes3
Last frostMay 31
First frostSep 28
Growing season119 days

6a 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Gallup, 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 Gallup, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 31median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 14only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 28median — 10% chance by Sep 17
Growing season119 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 17 and returns around October 5.

From the NOAA station Gallup Municipal Airport, NM, elevation 6,470 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 Gallup

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 10 – May 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · May 3 – May 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 10 – May 24
LettuceSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 7 – Jun 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 14 – Jun 28
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 7 – Jun 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 7 – Jun 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 7 – Jun 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 3 – Aug 17
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 14 – Oct 19
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 31) and first fall frost (Sep 28) 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 87301 came on Mar 12 — 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 27).

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 6a in New Mexico

511 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 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 27

Arizona cypress50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °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 °Fblue spruce100 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Fboxelder60 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °F

Shrubs 95

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 223

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 158

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 Gallup, NM.

Soil in Gallup, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 87301 is Breadsprings — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.9alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.2%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Breadsprings and Nahodish soils, 0 to 2 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 87301; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Gallup, NM

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days35days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights198nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,445base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 33 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 45 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation10.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall34 inper year; 23 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 45 °F, low 14 °F 45°14° JanFebruary: average high 50 °F, low 19 °F 50°19° FebMarch: average high 59 °F, low 23 °F 59°23° MarApril: average high 66 °F, low 28 °F 66°28° AprMay: average high 75 °F, low 36 °F 75°36° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 45 °F 86°45° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 55 °F 89°55° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 53 °F 86°53° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 44 °F 80°44° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 31 °F 69°31° OctNovember: average high 56 °F, low 20 °F 56°20° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 14 °F 45°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″January: 0.81 in precipitation, 6.3 in snowfall 0.8❄6 JanFebruary: 0.71 in precipitation, 5.9 in snowfall 0.7❄6 FebMarch: 0.62 in precipitation, 4.4 in snowfall 0.6❄4 MarApril: 0.46 in precipitation, 2.3 in snowfall 0.5❄2 AprMay: 0.57 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 0.6❄1 MayJune: 0.36 in precipitation 0.4 JunJuly: 1.63 in precipitation 1.6 JulAugust: 1.92 in precipitation 1.9 AugSeptember: 1.27 in precipitation 1.3 SepOctober: 0.92 in precipitation, 1.5 in snowfall 0.9❄2 OctNovember: 0.70 in precipitation, 4.5 in snowfall 0.7❄5 NovDecember: 0.73 in precipitation, 7.8 in snowfall 0.7❄8 Dec

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

ZIP codes in Gallup

873016a
−10 to −5 °F
873026a
−10 to −5 °F
873056a
−10 to −5 °F

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about Gallup

What planting zone is Gallup, NM?

Gallup, NM is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map (6a: −10 to −5 °F).

When is the last frost in Gallup, NM?

The median last spring frost is May 31 and the median first fall frost is September 28 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gallup Municipal Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Gallup, NM?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Apr 19 – May 10; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Jun 7, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Gallup, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 33 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Gallup, NM get?

About 10.7 inches of precipitation a year and 34 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).