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

Planting zone for 87041 — Pena Blanca, NM

ZIP code 87041 (Pena Blanca, Sandoval County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost October 21.

Where ZIP 87041 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostApr 26
First frostOct 21
2012 zone7a

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 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Pena Blanca, 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 Pena Blanca, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 8only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 21median — 10% chance by Oct 8
Growing season178 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 15 and returns around October 31.

From the NOAA station Cochiti Dam, NM — 3 miles away, elevation 5,561 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 87041

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Apr 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
TomatoesTransplant · May 3 – May 17
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 10 – May 24
BeansSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 26 – Sep 9
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 7 – Nov 11
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 26) and first fall frost (Oct 21) 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 87041 came on Feb 24 — 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 8).

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 7a in New Mexico

532 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New Mexico, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. 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 163

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 Pena Blanca, NM.

Soil in Pena Blanca, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 87041 is Witt — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH8.1alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.8%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Witt-Harvey association, 1 to 7 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 87041; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Pena Blanca, NM

Summer high94 °Faverage high, July
Winter low20 °Faverage low, January
Hot days70days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights137nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,823base 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
Precipitation11.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall8 inper year; 4 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 50 °F, low 20 °F 50°20° JanFebruary: average high 56 °F, low 24 °F 56°24° FebMarch: average high 64 °F, low 30 °F 64°30° MarApril: average high 71 °F, low 37 °F 71°37° AprMay: average high 81 °F, low 46 °F 81°46° MayJune: average high 92 °F, low 56 °F 92°56° JunJuly: average high 94 °F, low 61 °F 94°61° JulAugust: average high 92 °F, low 59 °F 92°59° AugSeptember: average high 86 °F, low 52 °F 86°52° SepOctober: average high 74 °F, low 40 °F 74°40° OctNovember: average high 60 °F, low 28 °F 60°28° NovDecember: average high 50 °F, low 20 °F 50°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 0.62 in precipitation, 2.1 in snowfall 0.6❄2 JanFebruary: 0.50 in precipitation, 1.8 in snowfall 0.5❄2 FebMarch: 0.72 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 0.7❄1 MarApril: 0.62 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 0.6 AprMay: 0.83 in precipitation 0.8 MayJune: 0.72 in precipitation 0.7 JunJuly: 2.03 in precipitation 2.0 JulAugust: 1.72 in precipitation 1.7 AugSeptember: 1.41 in precipitation 1.4 SepOctober: 1.26 in precipitation 1.3 OctNovember: 0.72 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 0.7❄1 NovDecember: 0.64 in precipitation, 2.8 in snowfall 0.6❄3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Cochiti Dam, NM (3 mi away); precipitation: Cochiti Dam, NM (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

870837a
Cochiti Lake, NM · 4 mi
870727a
Cochiti Pueblo, NM · 4 mi
870527b
Santo Domingo Pueblo, NM · 6 mi
875447a
Los Alamos, NM · 12 mi
875077a
Santa Fe, NM · 12 mi
870017b
Algodones, NM · 13 mi
875477b
White Rock, NM · 16 mi
870107a
Cerrillos, NM · 17 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 87041

What planting zone is ZIP code 87041?

ZIP code 87041 (Pena Blanca, NM) is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 0 to 5 °F (−17.8 to −15 °C).

When is the last frost in Pena Blanca, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 87041 is April 26; after May 8 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cochiti Dam station.

When is the first frost in Pena Blanca, NM?

The median first fall frost near 87041 is October 21, giving a median frost-free growing season of 178 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 87041?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 1 – Mar 15 and set transplants outside around May 3 – May 17, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 87041 get?

About 11.8 inches of precipitation a year and 8 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cochiti Dam station).

How hot do summers get in Pena Blanca, NM?

The average high peaks at 94 °F in July, with about 70 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 87041 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Witt at the center of ZIP 87041: loam, well drained, pH about 8.1 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Pena Blanca, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 87041 came on Feb 24 in 2026, 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 8), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Pena Blanca, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 87041 is 14 h 34 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.