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

Planting zone for 87416 — Fruitland, NM

ZIP code 87416 (Fruitland, San Juan County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 29 and the first fall frost October 15.

Where ZIP 87416 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 frostApr 29
First frostOct 15
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 Fruitland, 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 Fruitland, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 29median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 15median — 10% chance by Oct 1
Growing season167 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 17 and returns around October 26.

From the NOAA station Farmington Ag Sci Cnt, NM — 11 miles away, elevation 5,627 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 87416

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
TomatoesTransplant · May 6 – May 20
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 13 – May 27
BeansSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 20 – Sep 3
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 1 – Nov 5
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 29) and first fall frost (Oct 15) 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 87416 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 Fruitland, NM.

Soil in Fruitland, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 87416 is Doak — very fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureVery fine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.9alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.65%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Doak-Uffens complex, 0 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 87416; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Fruitland, NM

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low20 °Faverage low, January
Hot days50days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights140nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,275base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 40 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 39 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall9 inper year; 7 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 41 °F, low 20 °F 41°20° JanFebruary: average high 48 °F, low 25 °F 48°25° FebMarch: average high 58 °F, low 31 °F 58°31° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 37 °F 65°37° AprMay: average high 75 °F, low 45 °F 75°45° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 55 °F 86°55° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 61 °F 90°61° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 60 °F 87°60° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 52 °F 80°52° SepOctober: average high 68 °F, low 40 °F 68°40° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 29 °F 53°29° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 21 °F 42°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″January: 0.54 in precipitation, 2.2 in snowfall 0.5❄2 JanFebruary: 0.52 in precipitation, 2 in snowfall 0.5❄2 FebMarch: 0.59 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 0.6❄1 MarApril: 0.62 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 0.6 AprMay: 0.60 in precipitation 0.6 MayJune: 0.26 in precipitation 0.3 JunJuly: 0.77 in precipitation 0.8 JulAugust: 0.98 in precipitation 1.0 AugSeptember: 1.09 in precipitation 1.1 SepOctober: 0.84 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 0.8❄1 OctNovember: 0.59 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 0.6❄1 NovDecember: 0.55 in precipitation, 2 in snowfall 0.6❄2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Farmington Ag Sci Cnt, NM (11 mi away); precipitation: Farmington Ag Sci Cnt, NM (11 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.

874177a
Kirtland, NM · 13 mi
874217a
Waterflow, NM · 14 mi
874017a
Farmington, NM · 18 mi
874997a
Farmington, NM · 22 mi
874027a
Farmington, NM · 22 mi
874156b
Flora Vista, NM · 26 mi
874557a
Newcomb, NM · 26 mi
874617a
Sanostee, NM · 28 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 87416

What planting zone is ZIP code 87416?

ZIP code 87416 (Fruitland, 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 Fruitland, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 87416 is April 29; after May 13 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Farmington Ag Sci Cnt station.

When is the first frost in Fruitland, NM?

The median first fall frost near 87416 is October 15, giving a median frost-free growing season of 167 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 87416?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 4 – Mar 18 and set transplants outside around May 6 – May 20, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 87416 get?

About 8 inches of precipitation a year and 9 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Farmington Ag Sci Cnt station).

How hot do summers get in Fruitland, NM?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 50 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 87416 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Doak at the center of ZIP 87416: very fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 7.9 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Fruitland, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 87416 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 Fruitland, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 87416 is 14 h 40 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.