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

Planting zone for 87517 — Carson, NM

ZIP code 87517 (Carson, Taos County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 19 and the first fall frost October 3.

Where ZIP 87517 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostMay 19
First frostOct 3
2012 zone6a

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 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Carson, 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 Carson, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 19median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 3median — 10% chance by Sep 23
Growing season136 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 7 and returns around October 10.

From the NOAA station Taos, NM — 11 miles away, elevation 6,966 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 87517

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 28
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 28 – May 12
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
TomatoesTransplant · May 26 – Jun 9
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 2 – Jun 16
BeansSow outdoors · May 26 – Jun 9
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 26 – Jun 9
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 26 – Jun 9
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 8 – Aug 22
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 19 – Oct 24
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 19) and first fall frost (Oct 3) 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 87517 came on Mar 14 — 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 2).

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 6a in New Mexico

511 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New Mexico, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 27

Arizona cypress50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °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 °Fboxelder60 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °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 223

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 158

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 Carson, NM.

Soil in Carson, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 87517 is Petaca — very stony loam, well drained.

TextureVery stony loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.8slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.65%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Petaca very stony loam, 1 to 15 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 87517; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Carson, NM

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days23days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights183nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,285base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 39 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 40 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation14.7 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 42 °F, low 12 °F 42°12° JanFebruary: average high 46 °F, low 19 °F 46°19° FebMarch: average high 55 °F, low 25 °F 55°25° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 31 °F 63°31° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 37 °F 73°37° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 47 °F 84°47° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 53 °F 87°53° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 51 °F 84°51° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 45 °F 78°45° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 32 °F 67°32° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 22 °F 53°22° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 14 °F 42°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 0.72 in precipitation 0.7 JanFebruary: 0.64 in precipitation 0.6 FebMarch: 0.91 in precipitation 0.9 MarApril: 1.15 in precipitation 1.1 AprMay: 1.26 in precipitation 1.3 MayJune: 0.87 in precipitation 0.9 JunJuly: 2.25 in precipitation 2.3 JulAugust: 2.22 in precipitation 2.2 AugSeptember: 1.69 in precipitation 1.7 SepOctober: 1.27 in precipitation 1.3 OctNovember: 0.94 in precipitation 0.9 NovDecember: 0.79 in precipitation 0.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Taos, NM (11 mi away); precipitation: Arroyo Hondo 4.8 Wsw, NM (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

6 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

875295b
El Prado, NM · 8 mi
875396b
La Madera, NM · 10 mi
875576a
Ranchos De Taos, NM · 11 mi
875497a
Ojo Caliente, NM · 12 mi
875536a
Penasco, NM · 12 mi
875317a
Embudo, NM · 13 mi
875135b
Arroyo Hondo, NM · 14 mi
875145b
Arroyo Seco, NM · 14 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 87517

What planting zone is ZIP code 87517?

ZIP code 87517 (Carson, NM) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Carson, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 87517 is May 19; after May 31 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Taos station.

When is the first frost in Carson, NM?

The median first fall frost near 87517 is October 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 136 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 87517?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 24 – Apr 7 and set transplants outside around May 26 – Jun 9, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 87517 get?

About 14.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Arroyo Hondo 4.8 Wsw station).

How hot do summers get in Carson, NM?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 23 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 87517 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Petaca at the center of ZIP 87517: very stony loam, well drained, pH about 7.8 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Carson, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 87517 came on Mar 14 in 2026, 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 2), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Carson, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 87517 is 14 h 39 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.