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

Planting zone for 87043 — Placitas, NM

ZIP code 87043 (Placitas, Sandoval County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 16 and the first fall frost October 23.

Where ZIP 87043 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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
Coldest night−15 to −12.2 °C
Last frostApr 16
First frostOct 23
2012 zone7b

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 7b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Placitas, 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 Placitas, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 16median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 23median — 10% chance by Oct 8
Growing season187 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 2 and returns around November 2.

From the NOAA station Placitas 4w, NM — 4 miles away, elevation 5,584 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 87043

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 26
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 30 – May 14
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 28 – Sep 11
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 9 – Nov 13
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 16) and first fall frost (Oct 23) 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 87043 came on Feb 24 — 21 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 17).

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 Placitas, NM.

Soil in Placitas, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 87043 is Seis — stony loam, well drained.

TextureStony loama good balance for most vegetables
pH8.2alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.7%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Seis stony loam, 15 to 60 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 87043; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Placitas, NM

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low24 °Faverage low, January
Hot days62days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights118nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,727base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 32 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 46 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation10.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall11 inper year; 5 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 47 °F, low 24 °F 47°24° JanFebruary: average high 53 °F, low 28 °F 53°28° FebMarch: average high 62 °F, low 33 °F 62°33° MarApril: average high 71 °F, low 40 °F 71°40° AprMay: average high 79 °F, low 49 °F 79°49° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 58 °F 89°58° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 63 °F 91°63° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 60 °F 89°60° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 53 °F 82°53° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 41 °F 71°41° OctNovember: average high 56 °F, low 31 °F 56°31° NovDecember: average high 46 °F, low 24 °F 46°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″January: 0.50 in precipitation, 2.7 in snowfall 0.5❄3 JanFebruary: 0.47 in precipitation, 2 in snowfall 0.5❄2 FebMarch: 0.72 in precipitation, 1.5 in snowfall 0.7❄2 MarApril: 0.65 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 0.7 AprMay: 0.61 in precipitation 0.6 MayJune: 0.58 in precipitation 0.6 JunJuly: 1.70 in precipitation 1.7 JulAugust: 1.95 in precipitation 1.9 AugSeptember: 1.15 in precipitation 1.1 SepOctober: 1.10 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.1 OctNovember: 0.79 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 0.8❄1 NovDecember: 0.65 in precipitation, 2.9 in snowfall 0.7❄3 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

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

871227b
Albuquerque, NM · 7 mi
870477a
Sandia Park, NM · 8 mi
870087a
Cedar Crest, NM · 9 mi
870017b
Algodones, NM · 10 mi
871137b
Albuquerque, NM · 10 mi
871117b
Albuquerque, NM · 11 mi
870047b
Bernalillo, NM · 11 mi
870487b
Corrales, NM · 11 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 87043

What planting zone is ZIP code 87043?

ZIP code 87043 (Placitas, NM) is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 5 to 10 °F (−15 to −12.2 °C).

When is the last frost in Placitas, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 87043 is April 16; after May 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Placitas 4w station.

When is the first frost in Placitas, NM?

The median first fall frost near 87043 is October 23, giving a median frost-free growing season of 187 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 87043?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 19 – Mar 5 and set transplants outside around Apr 23 – May 7, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 87043 get?

About 10.9 inches of precipitation a year and 11 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Placitas 4w station).

How hot do summers get in Placitas, NM?

The average high peaks at 91 °F in July, with about 62 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 87043 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Seis at the center of ZIP 87043: stony loam, well drained, pH about 8.2 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Placitas, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 87043 came on Feb 24 in 2026, 21 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 17), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Placitas, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 87043 is 14 h 32 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.