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

Planting zone for Santa Fe, NM

Santa Fe, NM is in USDA zones 6b to 7a across its 11 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 2 and the first fall frost October 17.

Santa Fe on the zone map

Outlined: its 5 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.

Zones6b–7a−5 to 5 °F
ZIP codes11
Last frostMay 2
First frostOct 17
Growing season167 days

6b 8 ZIPs   7a 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Santa Fe, 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 Santa Fe, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 2median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 14only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 17median — 10% chance by Oct 4
Growing season167 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 22 and returns around October 27.

From the NOAA station Santa Fe Seton, NM, elevation 7,002 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 Santa Fe

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 11
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
TomatoesTransplant · May 9 – May 23
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 16 – May 30
BeansSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 22 – Sep 5
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 3 – Nov 7
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 2) and first fall frost (Oct 17) 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 87502 came on Mar 10 — 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 25).

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 6b in New Mexico

515 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 6b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 28

Arizona cypress50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °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 °Fblue spruce100 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °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 225

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 159

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 Santa Fe, NM.

Soil in Santa Fe, NM

The center of ZIP 87502 is mapped as Urban 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 87502; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Santa Fe, NM

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low18 °Faverage low, January
Hot days24days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights168nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,504base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 34 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
Precipitation15.4 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 43 °F, low 18 °F 43°18° JanFebruary: average high 48 °F, low 21 °F 48°21° FebMarch: average high 57 °F, low 26 °F 57°26° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 32 °F 64°32° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 41 °F 74°41° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 50 °F 84°50° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 55 °F 86°55° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 54 °F 83°54° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 47 °F 78°47° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 35 °F 66°35° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 24 °F 53°24° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 18 °F 43°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 0.82 in precipitation 0.8 JanFebruary: 0.64 in precipitation 0.6 FebMarch: 1.15 in precipitation 1.1 MarApril: 0.69 in precipitation 0.7 AprMay: 1.25 in precipitation 1.3 MayJune: 0.95 in precipitation 0.9 JunJuly: 2.39 in precipitation 2.4 JulAugust: 2.20 in precipitation 2.2 AugSeptember: 1.52 in precipitation 1.5 SepOctober: 1.96 in precipitation 2.0 OctNovember: 0.99 in precipitation 1.0 NovDecember: 0.89 in precipitation 0.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Santa Fe 2, NM (5 mi away); precipitation: Santa Fe 1.2 Ene, NM (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Santa Fe

875016b
−5 to 0 °F
875026b
−5 to 0 °F
875036b
−5 to 0 °F
875046b
−5 to 0 °F
875056b
−5 to 0 °F
875067a
0 to 5 °F
875077a
0 to 5 °F
875087a
0 to 5 °F
875096b
−5 to 0 °F
875926b
−5 to 0 °F
875946b
−5 to 0 °F

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about Santa Fe

What planting zone is Santa Fe, NM?

Santa Fe, NM is in USDA hardiness zones 6b to 7a on the 2023 map (6b: −5 to 0 °F; 7a: 0 to 5 °F).

When is the last frost in Santa Fe, NM?

The median last spring frost is May 2 and the median first fall frost is October 17 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Santa Fe Seton station).

When can I plant a garden in Santa Fe, NM?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 21 – Apr 11; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 9, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Santa Fe, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 34 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Santa Fe, NM get?

About 15.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).