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

Planting zone for 87123 — Albuquerque, NM

ZIP code 87123 (Albuquerque, Bernalillo County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 21 and the first fall frost October 23.

Where ZIP 87123 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 21
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 Albuquerque, 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 Albuquerque, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 21median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 4only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 23median — 10% chance by Oct 12
Growing season184 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 6 and returns around November 3.

From the NOAA station Albuquerque Foothills Ne, NM — 5 miles away, elevation 5,994 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 87123

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 31
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 28 – May 12
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 5 – May 19
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
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 21) 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 87123 came on Feb 23 — 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 14).

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 Albuquerque, NM.

Soil in Albuquerque, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 87123 is Ustolls — stony loam, well drained.

TextureStony loama 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 groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Rock outcrop-Orthids complex, 40 to 80 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 87123; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Albuquerque, NM

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low26 °Faverage low, January
Hot days41days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights106nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,618base 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
Precipitation12.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 45 °F, low 26 °F 45°26° JanFebruary: average high 51 °F, low 29 °F 51°29° FebMarch: average high 60 °F, low 35 °F 60°35° MarApril: average high 69 °F, low 40 °F 69°40° AprMay: average high 78 °F, low 49 °F 78°49° MayJune: average high 88 °F, low 58 °F 88°58° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 62 °F 89°62° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 61 °F 86°61° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 55 °F 80°55° SepOctober: average high 68 °F, low 43 °F 68°43° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 33 °F 54°33° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 26 °F 45°26° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 0.56 in precipitation 0.6 JanFebruary: 0.57 in precipitation 0.6 FebMarch: 0.57 in precipitation 0.6 MarApril: 0.74 in precipitation 0.7 AprMay: 0.64 in precipitation 0.6 MayJune: 0.92 in precipitation 0.9 JunJuly: 1.92 in precipitation 1.9 JulAugust: 2.15 in precipitation 2.1 AugSeptember: 1.48 in precipitation 1.5 SepOctober: 1.13 in precipitation 1.1 OctNovember: 0.76 in precipitation 0.8 NovDecember: 0.88 in precipitation 0.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Albuquerque Foothills Ne, NM (5 mi away); precipitation: Albuquerque 8.1 Ese, NM (2 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.

871127b
Albuquerque, NM · 4 mi
871167b
Albuquerque, NM · 5 mi
871177b
Kirtland Afb, NM · 5 mi
871117b
Albuquerque, NM · 6 mi
871088a
Albuquerque, NM · 6 mi
871107b
Albuquerque, NM · 7 mi
870087a
Cedar Crest, NM · 7 mi
871097b
Albuquerque, NM · 9 mi

All 40 ZIP codes in Albuquerque → · New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 87123

What planting zone is ZIP code 87123?

ZIP code 87123 (Albuquerque, 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 Albuquerque, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 87123 is April 21; after May 4 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Albuquerque Foothills Ne station.

When is the first frost in Albuquerque, NM?

The median first fall frost near 87123 is October 23, giving a median frost-free growing season of 184 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 87123?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 24 – Mar 10 and set transplants outside around Apr 28 – May 12, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 87123 get?

About 12.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Albuquerque 8.1 Ese station).

How hot do summers get in Albuquerque, NM?

The average high peaks at 89 °F in July, with about 41 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 87123 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Ustolls at the center of ZIP 87123: stony loam, well drained, pH about 7.9 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Albuquerque, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 87123 came on Feb 23 in 2026, 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 14), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Albuquerque, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 87123 is 14 h 31 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.