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

Planting zone for 87401 — Farmington, NM

ZIP code 87401 (Farmington, San Juan County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 2 and the first fall frost October 13.

Where ZIP 87401 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 frostMay 2
First frostOct 13
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 Farmington, 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 Farmington, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 2median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 13median — 10% chance by Sep 29
Growing season160 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 20 and returns around October 22.

From the NOAA station Farmington Regional Airport, NM — 2 miles away, elevation 5,496 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 87401

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 11
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
TomatoesTransplant · May 9 – May 23
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 16 – May 30
BeansSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 18 – Sep 1
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 29 – Nov 3
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 2) and first fall frost (Oct 13) 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 87401 came on Mar 3 — 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 20).

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 Farmington, NM.

Soil in Farmington, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 87401 is Fruitland — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.9alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.7%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Fruitland loam, 1 to 3 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 87401; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Farmington, NM

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days69days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights149nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,343base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 41 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 38 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation7.8 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 43 °F, low 19 °F 43°19° JanFebruary: average high 50 °F, low 24 °F 50°24° FebMarch: average high 60 °F, low 30 °F 60°30° MarApril: average high 67 °F, low 35 °F 67°35° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 44 °F 77°44° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 53 °F 89°53° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 61 °F 93°61° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 60 °F 90°60° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 51 °F 82°51° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 38 °F 69°38° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 27 °F 55°27° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 19 °F 43°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″January: 0.72 in precipitation 0.7 JanFebruary: 0.65 in precipitation 0.7 FebMarch: 0.60 in precipitation 0.6 MarApril: 0.56 in precipitation 0.6 AprMay: 0.53 in precipitation 0.5 MayJune: 0.20 in precipitation 0.2 JunJuly: 0.63 in precipitation 0.6 JulAugust: 0.79 in precipitation 0.8 AugSeptember: 1.06 in precipitation 1.1 SepOctober: 0.79 in precipitation 0.8 OctNovember: 0.66 in precipitation 0.7 NovDecember: 0.57 in precipitation 0.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Farmington Regional Airport, NM (2 mi away); precipitation: Farmington Regional Airport, NM (2 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.

874027a
Farmington, NM · 4 mi
874156b
Flora Vista, NM · 8 mi
874177a
Kirtland, NM · 9 mi
874186b
La Plata, NM · 15 mi
874106b
Aztec, NM · 18 mi
874167a
Fruitland, NM · 18 mi
874217a
Waterflow, NM · 19 mi
874137a
Bloomfield, NM · 23 mi

All 3 ZIP codes in Farmington → · New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 87401

What planting zone is ZIP code 87401?

ZIP code 87401 (Farmington, 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 Farmington, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 87401 is May 2; after May 18 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Farmington Regional Airport station.

When is the first frost in Farmington, NM?

The median first fall frost near 87401 is October 13, giving a median frost-free growing season of 160 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 87401?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 7 – Mar 21 and set transplants outside around May 9 – May 23, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 87401 get?

About 7.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Farmington Regional Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Farmington, NM?

The average high peaks at 93 °F in July, with about 69 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 87401 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Fruitland at the center of ZIP 87401: loam, well drained, pH about 7.9 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Farmington, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 87401 came on Mar 3 in 2026, 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 20), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Farmington, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 87401 is 14 h 41 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.