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

Planting zone for Roswell, NM

Roswell, NM is in USDA zone 7b across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 20 and the first fall frost October 20.

Roswell 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 codes3
Last frostApr 20
First frostOct 20
Growing season181 days

7b 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Roswell, 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 Roswell, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 20median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 3only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 20median — 10% chance by Oct 5
Growing season181 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 9 and returns around October 29.

From the NOAA station Bitter Lakes Wl Refuge, NM, elevation 3,665 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 Roswell

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 30
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 27 – May 11
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 4 – May 18
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 25 – Sep 8
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 6 – Nov 10
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 20) and first fall frost (Oct 20) 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 88202 came on Feb 13 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 14).

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 Roswell, NM.

Soil in Roswell, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 88202 is Reakor — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.9alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Reakor loam, 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 88202; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Roswell, NM

Summer high97 °Faverage high, July
Winter low28 °Faverage low, January
Hot days110days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights87nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,604base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 22 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 56 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation11.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall10 inper year; 6 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 57 °F, low 28 °F 57°28° JanFebruary: average high 63 °F, low 33 °F 63°33° FebMarch: average high 71 °F, low 39 °F 71°39° MarApril: average high 79 °F, low 47 °F 79°47° AprMay: average high 88 °F, low 57 °F 88°57° MayJune: average high 96 °F, low 66 °F 96°66° JunJuly: average high 97 °F, low 70 °F 97°70° JulAugust: average high 95 °F, low 69 °F 95°69° AugSeptember: average high 88 °F, low 61 °F 88°61° SepOctober: average high 78 °F, low 49 °F 78°49° OctNovember: average high 66 °F, low 36 °F 66°36° NovDecember: average high 57 °F, low 28 °F 57°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″January: 0.36 in precipitation, 2.4 in snowfall 0.4❄2 JanFebruary: 0.35 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 0.3❄1 FebMarch: 0.54 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 0.5❄1 MarApril: 0.57 in precipitation 0.6 AprMay: 1.14 in precipitation 1.1 MayJune: 1.28 in precipitation 1.3 JunJuly: 1.82 in precipitation 1.8 JulAugust: 1.68 in precipitation 1.7 AugSeptember: 1.55 in precipitation 1.6 SepOctober: 1.33 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 1.3 OctNovember: 0.45 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 0.5❄1 NovDecember: 0.56 in precipitation, 3.8 in snowfall 0.6❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Roswell Ind Air Pk, NM (4 mi away); precipitation: Roswell Ind Air Pk, NM (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Roswell

882017b
5 to 10 °F
882027b
5 to 10 °F
882037b
5 to 10 °F

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about Roswell

What planting zone is Roswell, NM?

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

When is the last frost in Roswell, NM?

The median last spring frost is April 20 and the median first fall frost is October 20 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bitter Lakes Wl Refuge station).

When can I plant a garden in Roswell, NM?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 9 – Mar 30; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 27, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Roswell, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 22 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Roswell, NM get?

About 11.6 inches of precipitation a year and 10 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).