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

Planting zone for 87016 — Estancia, NM

ZIP code 87016 (Estancia, Torrance County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 18 and the first fall frost October 1.

Where ZIP 87016 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostMay 18
First frostOct 1
2012 zone6a

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Estancia, 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 Estancia, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 18median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 2only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 1median — 10% chance by Sep 21
Growing season135 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 5 and returns around October 10.

From the NOAA station Estancia 4n, NM — 5 miles away, elevation 6,142 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 87016

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 27
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 27 – May 11
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
TomatoesTransplant · May 25 – Jun 8
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 1 – Jun 15
BeansSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 25 – Jun 8
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 6 – Aug 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 17 – Oct 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 18) and first fall frost (Oct 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 87016 came on Mar 2 — 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 16).

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).

Soil in Estancia, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 87016 is Karde — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH8.2alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Karde-Willard loams, saline.

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 87016; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Estancia, NM

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low15 °Faverage low, January
Hot days43days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights183nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,760base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 29 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 49 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation13.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall18 inper year; 10 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 48 °F, low 15 °F 48°15° JanFebruary: average high 53 °F, low 18 °F 53°18° FebMarch: average high 62 °F, low 24 °F 62°24° MarApril: average high 69 °F, low 31 °F 69°31° AprMay: average high 79 °F, low 39 °F 79°39° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 47 °F 89°47° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 54 °F 90°54° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 52 °F 87°52° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 45 °F 82°45° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 33 °F 71°33° OctNovember: average high 59 °F, low 22 °F 59°22° NovDecember: average high 49 °F, low 15 °F 49°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 0.53 in precipitation, 4.1 in snowfall 0.5❄4 JanFebruary: 0.36 in precipitation, 2.6 in snowfall 0.4❄3 FebMarch: 0.59 in precipitation, 2.1 in snowfall 0.6❄2 MarApril: 0.49 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 0.5❄1 AprMay: 1.16 in precipitation 1.2 MayJune: 1.19 in precipitation 1.2 JunJuly: 2.36 in precipitation 2.4 JulAugust: 2.36 in precipitation 2.4 AugSeptember: 1.77 in precipitation 1.8 SepOctober: 1.37 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 1.4❄1 OctNovember: 0.69 in precipitation, 2.5 in snowfall 0.7❄3 NovDecember: 0.69 in precipitation, 5.2 in snowfall 0.7❄5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Estancia 4n, NM (5 mi away); precipitation: Estancia 4n, NM (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

6 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

870326a
Mcintosh, NM · 8 mi
870356a
Moriarty, NM · 15 mi
870636b
Willard, NM · 16 mi
870616b
Torreon, NM · 21 mi
870597a
Tijeras, NM · 23 mi
870156b
Edgewood, NM · 24 mi
870566b
Stanley, NM · 29 mi
871237b
Albuquerque, NM · 33 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 87016

What planting zone is ZIP code 87016?

ZIP code 87016 (Estancia, NM) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Estancia, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 87016 is May 18; after June 2 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Estancia 4n station.

When is the first frost in Estancia, NM?

The median first fall frost near 87016 is October 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 135 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 87016?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 23 – Apr 6 and set transplants outside around May 25 – Jun 8, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 87016 get?

About 13.6 inches of precipitation a year and 18 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Estancia 4n station).

How hot do summers get in Estancia, NM?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 43 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 87016 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Karde at the center of ZIP 87016: loam, well drained, pH about 8.2 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Estancia, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 87016 came on Mar 2 in 2026, 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 16), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Estancia, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 87016 is 14 h 29 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.