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

Planting zone for 87511 — Alcalde, NM

ZIP code 87511 (Alcalde, Rio Arriba County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 10 and the first fall frost October 4.

Where ZIP 87511 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 10
First frostOct 4
2012 zone6a

Was 6a on the 2012 map — a full zone warmer now. 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 Alcalde, 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 Alcalde, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 10median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 24only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 4median — 10% chance by Sep 24
Growing season145 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 28 and returns around October 15.

From the NOAA station Alcalde, NM — 4 miles away, elevation 5,679 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 87511

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 19 – May 3
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
TomatoesTransplant · May 17 – May 31
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 24 – Jun 7
BeansSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 9 – Aug 23
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 20 – Oct 25
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 10) and first fall frost (Oct 4) 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 87511 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 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 Alcalde, NM.

Soil in Alcalde, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 87511 is Florita — gravelly fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly fine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH8.2alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Florita-Rock outcrop complex, 15 to 45 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 87511; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Alcalde, NM

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low15 °Faverage low, January
Hot days40days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights182nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,583base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 37 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 42 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation12 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 45 °F, low 15 °F 45°15° JanFebruary: average high 51 °F, low 20 °F 51°20° FebMarch: average high 60 °F, low 25 °F 60°25° MarApril: average high 67 °F, low 32 °F 67°32° AprMay: average high 76 °F, low 40 °F 76°40° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 48 °F 86°48° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 55 °F 88°55° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 54 °F 86°54° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 45 °F 80°45° SepOctober: average high 69 °F, low 32 °F 69°32° OctNovember: average high 55 °F, low 22 °F 55°22° NovDecember: average high 45 °F, low 15 °F 45°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 0.55 in precipitation 0.6 JanFebruary: 0.41 in precipitation 0.4 FebMarch: 0.61 in precipitation 0.6 MarApril: 0.88 in precipitation 0.9 AprMay: 0.67 in precipitation 0.7 MayJune: 2.09 in precipitation 2.1 JunJuly: 1.29 in precipitation 1.3 JulAugust: 1.67 in precipitation 1.7 AugSeptember: 1.22 in precipitation 1.2 SepOctober: 0.97 in precipitation 1.0 OctNovember: 1.01 in precipitation 1.0 NovDecember: 0.62 in precipitation 0.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Alcalde, NM (4 mi away); precipitation: Alcalde 5.9 Ne, NM (4 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.

875667a
Ohkay Owingeh, NM · 6 mi
875827a
Velarde, NM · 6 mi
875677a
Santa Cruz, NM · 7 mi
875236b
Cordova, NM · 8 mi
875337a
Espanola, NM · 9 mi
875276b
Dixon, NM · 9 mi
875317a
Embudo, NM · 10 mi
875327a
Espanola, NM · 11 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 87511

What planting zone is ZIP code 87511?

ZIP code 87511 (Alcalde, 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 Alcalde, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 87511 is May 10; after May 24 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Alcalde station.

When is the first frost in Alcalde, NM?

The median first fall frost near 87511 is October 4, giving a median frost-free growing season of 145 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 87511?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 15 – Mar 29 and set transplants outside around May 17 – May 31, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 87511 get?

About 12 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Alcalde 5.9 Ne station).

How hot do summers get in Alcalde, NM?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 40 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 87511 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Florita at the center of ZIP 87511: gravelly fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 8.2 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Alcalde, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 87511 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 Alcalde, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 87511 is 14 h 37 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 87511 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 87511 in zone 6a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.