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

Planting zone for 87063 — Willard, NM

ZIP code 87063 (Willard, Torrance County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 18 and the first fall frost October 1.

Where ZIP 87063 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostMay 18
First frostOct 1
2012 zone6b

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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Willard, 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 Willard, 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 — 20 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 87063

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 87063 came on Mar 1 — 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 15).

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 Willard, NM.

Soil in Willard, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 87063 is Otero — fine sandy loam, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.9alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Otero and Palma soils.

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 87063; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Willard, 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 28 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 50 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
Snowfall13 inper year

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″4″January: 0.46 in precipitation, 3.1 in snowfall 0.5❄3 JanFebruary: 0.48 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 0.5❄1 FebMarch: 0.61 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 0.6❄1 MarApril: 0.48 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 0.5 AprMay: 0.79 in precipitation 0.8 MayJune: 1.10 in precipitation 1.1 JunJuly: 3.07 in precipitation 3.1 JulAugust: 2.34 in precipitation 2.3 AugSeptember: 1.65 in precipitation 1.6 SepOctober: 1.41 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 1.4❄1 OctNovember: 0.55 in precipitation, 2 in snowfall 0.6❄2 NovDecember: 0.68 in precipitation, 4 in snowfall 0.7❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Estancia 4n, NM (20 mi away); precipitation: Progresso, 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.

870166a
Estancia, NM · 16 mi
870326a
Mcintosh, NM · 23 mi
870367a
Mountainair, NM · 24 mi
870356a
Moriarty, NM · 27 mi
883216b
Encino, NM · 30 mi
870616b
Torreon, NM · 30 mi
883187a
Corona, NM · 31 mi
870117a
Claunch, NM · 33 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 87063

What planting zone is ZIP code 87063?

ZIP code 87063 (Willard, NM) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Willard, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 87063 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 Willard, NM?

The median first fall frost near 87063 is October 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 135 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 87063?

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 87063 get?

About 13.6 inches of precipitation a year and 13 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Progresso station).

How hot do summers get in Willard, 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 87063 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Otero at the center of ZIP 87063: fine sandy loam, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 7.9 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Willard, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 87063 came on Mar 1 in 2026, 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 15), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Willard, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 87063 is 14 h 28 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.