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

Planting zone for 87502 — Santa Fe, NM

ZIP code 87502 (Santa Fe, Santa Fe County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 14 and the first fall frost October 6.

Where ZIP 87502 is

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 14
First frostOct 6
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 Santa Fe, 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 Santa Fe, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 14median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 28only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 6median — 10% chance by Sep 25
Growing season144 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 3 and returns around October 16.

From the NOAA station Santa Fe 2, NM — 5 miles away, elevation 6,756 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 87502

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 23
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
TomatoesTransplant · May 21 – Jun 4
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 28 – Jun 11
BeansSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 11 – Aug 25
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 22 – Oct 27
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 14) and first fall frost (Oct 6) 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 87502 came on Mar 10 — 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 25).

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 Santa Fe, NM.

Soil in Santa Fe, NM

The center of ZIP 87502 is mapped as Urban land: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 87502; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Santa Fe, NM

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low18 °Faverage low, January
Hot days24days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights168nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,504base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 35 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 44 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation15.4 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 18 °F 43°18° JanFebruary: average high 48 °F, low 21 °F 48°21° FebMarch: average high 57 °F, low 26 °F 57°26° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 32 °F 64°32° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 41 °F 74°41° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 50 °F 84°50° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 55 °F 86°55° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 54 °F 83°54° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 47 °F 78°47° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 35 °F 66°35° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 24 °F 53°24° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 18 °F 43°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 0.82 in precipitation 0.8 JanFebruary: 0.64 in precipitation 0.6 FebMarch: 1.15 in precipitation 1.1 MarApril: 0.69 in precipitation 0.7 AprMay: 1.25 in precipitation 1.3 MayJune: 0.95 in precipitation 0.9 JunJuly: 2.39 in precipitation 2.4 JulAugust: 2.20 in precipitation 2.2 AugSeptember: 1.52 in precipitation 1.5 SepOctober: 1.96 in precipitation 2.0 OctNovember: 0.99 in precipitation 1.0 NovDecember: 0.89 in precipitation 0.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Santa Fe 2, NM (5 mi away); precipitation: Santa Fe 1.2 Ene, NM (within 1 mile). 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.

875036b
Santa Fe, NM · <1 mi
875046b
Santa Fe, NM · <1 mi
875016b
Santa Fe, NM · 5 mi
875056b
Santa Fe, NM · 6 mi
875746b
Tesuque, NM · 7 mi
875067a
Santa Fe, NM · 10 mi
875077a
Santa Fe, NM · 11 mi
875087a
Santa Fe, NM · 12 mi

All 11 ZIP codes in Santa Fe → · New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 87502

What planting zone is ZIP code 87502?

ZIP code 87502 (Santa Fe, 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 Santa Fe, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 87502 is May 14; after May 28 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Santa Fe 2 station.

When is the first frost in Santa Fe, NM?

The median first fall frost near 87502 is October 6, giving a median frost-free growing season of 144 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 87502?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 19 – Apr 2 and set transplants outside around May 21 – Jun 4, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 87502 get?

About 15.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Santa Fe 1.2 Ene station).

How hot do summers get in Santa Fe, NM?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 24 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Santa Fe, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 87502 came on Mar 10 in 2026, 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 25), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Santa Fe, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 87502 is 14 h 35 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.