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

Planting zone for 87035 — Moriarty, NM

ZIP code 87035 (Moriarty, Torrance County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 14 and the first fall frost October 4.

Where ZIP 87035 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 14
First frostOct 4
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 Moriarty, 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 Moriarty, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 14median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 2only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 4median — 10% chance by Sep 22
Growing season142 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 3 and returns around October 14.

From the NOAA station Moriarty 1 Ne, NM — 9 miles away, elevation 6,221 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 87035

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 23
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
TomatoesTransplant · May 21 – Jun 4
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 28 – Jun 11
BeansSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 9 – Aug 23
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 20 – Oct 25
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 14) and first fall frost (Oct 4) 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 87035 came on Mar 2 — 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 19).

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 Moriarty, NM.

Soil in Moriarty, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 87035 is Clovis — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.45%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Clovis loam, 0 to 5 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 87035; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Moriarty, NM

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low15 °Faverage low, January
Hot days34days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights181nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,480base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 30 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 48 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation12.7 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 45 °F, low 15 °F 45°15° JanFebruary: average high 51 °F, low 19 °F 51°19° FebMarch: average high 59 °F, low 24 °F 59°24° MarApril: average high 67 °F, low 30 °F 67°30° AprMay: average high 76 °F, low 39 °F 76°39° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 48 °F 86°48° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 54 °F 88°54° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 52 °F 85°52° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 44 °F 80°44° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 33 °F 69°33° OctNovember: average high 56 °F, low 22 °F 56°22° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 15 °F 45°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 0.49 in precipitation 0.5 JanFebruary: 0.42 in precipitation 0.4 FebMarch: 0.68 in precipitation 0.7 MarApril: 0.59 in precipitation 0.6 AprMay: 1.08 in precipitation 1.1 MayJune: 0.68 in precipitation 0.7 JunJuly: 2.67 in precipitation 2.7 JulAugust: 2.04 in precipitation 2.0 AugSeptember: 1.40 in precipitation 1.4 SepOctober: 1.23 in precipitation 1.2 OctNovember: 0.78 in precipitation 0.8 NovDecember: 0.65 in precipitation 0.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Moriarty 1 Ne, NM (9 mi away); precipitation: Moriarty 1 Ne, NM (9 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 · 9 mi
870706b
Clines Corners, NM · 11 mi
870566b
Stanley, NM · 15 mi
870166a
Estancia, NM · 15 mi
870156b
Edgewood, NM · 18 mi
870597a
Tijeras, NM · 22 mi
870636b
Willard, NM · 27 mi
883216b
Encino, NM · 29 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 87035

What planting zone is ZIP code 87035?

ZIP code 87035 (Moriarty, 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 Moriarty, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 87035 is May 14; after June 2 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Moriarty 1 Ne station.

When is the first frost in Moriarty, NM?

The median first fall frost near 87035 is October 4, giving a median frost-free growing season of 142 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 87035?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 19 – Apr 2 and set transplants outside around May 21 – Jun 4, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 87035 get?

About 12.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Moriarty 1 Ne station).

How hot do summers get in Moriarty, NM?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 34 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 87035 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Clovis at the center of ZIP 87035: loam, well drained, pH about 7.2 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Moriarty, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 87035 came on Mar 2 in 2026, 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 19), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Moriarty, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 87035 is 14 h 30 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.