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

Planting zone for 87070 — Clines Corners, NM

ZIP code 87070 (Clines Corners, Torrance County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 4 and the first fall frost October 12.

Where ZIP 87070 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 4
First frostOct 12
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 Clines Corners, 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 Clines Corners, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 4median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 12median — 10% chance by Sep 30
Growing season159 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 25 and returns around October 20.

From the NOAA station Clines Corners, NM — 4 miles away, elevation 7,087 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 87070

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 13
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
TomatoesTransplant · May 11 – May 25
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 18 – Jun 1
BeansSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 17 – Aug 31
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 28 – Nov 2
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 4) and first fall frost (Oct 12) 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 87070 came on Mar 2 — 22 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 24).

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 Clines Corners, NM.

Soil in Clines Corners, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 87070 is Harvey — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.9alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Harvey-Dean loams, 1 to 9 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 87070; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Clines Corners, NM

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low20 °Faverage low, January
Hot days13days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights148nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,567base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 31 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
Precipitation14.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 42 °F, low 20 °F 42°20° JanFebruary: average high 47 °F, low 23 °F 47°23° FebMarch: average high 56 °F, low 28 °F 56°28° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 34 °F 63°34° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 43 °F 72°43° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 52 °F 83°52° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 56 °F 84°56° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 55 °F 82°55° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 49 °F 76°49° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 38 °F 65°38° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 27 °F 52°27° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 20 °F 42°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 0.61 in precipitation 0.6 JanFebruary: 0.59 in precipitation 0.6 FebMarch: 0.77 in precipitation 0.8 MarApril: 0.61 in precipitation 0.6 AprMay: 0.80 in precipitation 0.8 MayJune: 1.12 in precipitation 1.1 JunJuly: 2.81 in precipitation 2.8 JulAugust: 2.33 in precipitation 2.3 AugSeptember: 1.90 in precipitation 1.9 SepOctober: 1.34 in precipitation 1.3 OctNovember: 0.67 in precipitation 0.7 NovDecember: 0.75 in precipitation 0.8 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

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

870356a
Moriarty, NM · 11 mi
870566b
Stanley, NM · 13 mi
875606b
Ribera, NM · 19 mi
883216b
Encino, NM · 24 mi
875626b
Rowe, NM · 27 mi
875406b
Lamy, NM · 28 mi
875836b
Villanueva, NM · 28 mi
875696b
Serafina, NM · 33 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 87070

What planting zone is ZIP code 87070?

ZIP code 87070 (Clines Corners, 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 Clines Corners, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 87070 is May 4; after May 18 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Clines Corners station.

When is the first frost in Clines Corners, NM?

The median first fall frost near 87070 is October 12, giving a median frost-free growing season of 159 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 87070?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 9 – Mar 23 and set transplants outside around May 11 – May 25, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 87070 get?

About 14.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Clines Corners station).

How hot do summers get in Clines Corners, NM?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 13 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 87070 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Harvey at the center of ZIP 87070: loam, well drained, pH about 7.9 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Clines Corners, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 87070 came on Mar 2 in 2026, 22 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 24), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Clines Corners, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 87070 is 14 h 31 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.