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

Planting zone for Rio Rancho, NM

Rio Rancho, NM is in USDA zone 7b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 8 and the first fall frost November 1.

Rio Rancho 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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostApr 8
First frostNov 1
Growing season203 days

7b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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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 Rio Rancho, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 8median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 28only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 1median — 10% chance by Oct 20
Growing season203 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 20 and returns around November 9.

From the NOAA station Rio Rancho #2, NM, elevation 5,289 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 Rio Rancho

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 18
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 22 – May 6
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 6 – Sep 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 18 – Nov 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 8) and first fall frost (Nov 1) 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 87144 came on Feb 19 — 22 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 13).

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 Rio Rancho, NM.

Soil in Rio Rancho, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 87144 is Grieta — loamy fine sand, well drained.

TextureLoamy fine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.6slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Grieta-Sheppard loamy fine sands, 2 to 9 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 87144; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Rio Rancho, NM

Summer high94 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days85days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights131nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,951base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 32 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 46 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation10.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 47 °F, low 22 °F 47°22° JanFebruary: average high 54 °F, low 25 °F 54°25° FebMarch: average high 63 °F, low 32 °F 63°32° MarApril: average high 72 °F, low 39 °F 72°39° AprMay: average high 80 °F, low 48 °F 80°48° MayJune: average high 92 °F, low 58 °F 92°58° JunJuly: average high 94 °F, low 63 °F 94°63° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 61 °F 91°61° AugSeptember: average high 84 °F, low 54 °F 84°54° SepOctober: average high 72 °F, low 41 °F 72°41° OctNovember: average high 58 °F, low 29 °F 58°29° NovDecember: average high 47 °F, low 23 °F 47°23° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″January: 0.50 in precipitation 0.5 JanFebruary: 0.42 in precipitation 0.4 FebMarch: 0.56 in precipitation 0.6 MarApril: 0.57 in precipitation 0.6 AprMay: 0.58 in precipitation 0.6 MayJune: 0.49 in precipitation 0.5 JunJuly: 1.66 in precipitation 1.7 JulAugust: 1.81 in precipitation 1.8 AugSeptember: 1.32 in precipitation 1.3 SepOctober: 1.24 in precipitation 1.2 OctNovember: 0.56 in precipitation 0.6 NovDecember: 0.60 in precipitation 0.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Rio Rancho #1, NM (6 mi away); precipitation: Rio Rancho 3.5 W, NM (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Rio Rancho

871247b
5 to 10 °F
871447b
5 to 10 °F

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about Rio Rancho

What planting zone is Rio Rancho, NM?

Rio Rancho, NM is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map (7b: 5 to 10 °F).

When is the last frost in Rio Rancho, NM?

The median last spring frost is April 8 and the median first fall frost is November 1 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rio Rancho #2 station).

When can I plant a garden in Rio Rancho, NM?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 25 – Mar 18; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 15, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Rio Rancho, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 32 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Rio Rancho, NM get?

About 10.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).