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

Planting zone for 87549 — Ojo Caliente, NM

ZIP code 87549 (Ojo Caliente, Taos County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost October 7.

Where ZIP 87549 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 15
First frostOct 7
2012 zone6b

Was 6b on the 2012 map — half a 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 Ojo Caliente, 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 Ojo Caliente, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 4only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 7median — 10% chance by Sep 23
Growing season143 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 2 and returns around October 15.

From the NOAA station El Rito, NM — 13 miles away, elevation 6,870 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 87549

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
TomatoesTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 29 – Jun 12
BeansSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 12 – Aug 26
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 23 – Oct 28
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 15) and first fall frost (Oct 7) 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 87549 came on Mar 10 — 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 27).

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 Ojo Caliente, NM.

Soil in Ojo Caliente, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 87549 is Vibo — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Vibo sandy loam, 3 to 10 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 87549; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Ojo Caliente, NM

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low18 °Faverage low, January
Hot days17days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights167nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,277base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 38 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 41 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation12.5 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 41 °F, low 18 °F 41°18° JanFebruary: average high 46 °F, low 21 °F 46°21° FebMarch: average high 54 °F, low 26 °F 54°26° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 32 °F 63°32° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 40 °F 72°40° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 48 °F 81°48° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 54 °F 84°54° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 53 °F 82°53° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 47 °F 76°47° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 36 °F 65°36° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 25 °F 51°25° NovDecember: average high 41 °F, low 19 °F 41°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″January: 0.55 in precipitation 0.6 JanFebruary: 0.53 in precipitation 0.5 FebMarch: 0.93 in precipitation 0.9 MarApril: 0.88 in precipitation 0.9 AprMay: 0.97 in precipitation 1.0 MayJune: 0.77 in precipitation 0.8 JunJuly: 1.89 in precipitation 1.9 JulAugust: 1.87 in precipitation 1.9 AugSeptember: 1.35 in precipitation 1.4 SepOctober: 1.24 in precipitation 1.2 OctNovember: 0.81 in precipitation 0.8 NovDecember: 0.70 in precipitation 0.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: El Rito, NM (13 mi away); precipitation: Alcalde 19 N, NM (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

875317a
Embudo, NM · 6 mi
875396b
La Madera, NM · 6 mi
875827a
Velarde, NM · 8 mi
875176a
Carson, NM · 12 mi
875276b
Dixon, NM · 12 mi
875307a
El Rito, NM · 14 mi
875536a
Penasco, NM · 14 mi
875117a
Alcalde, NM · 14 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 87549

What planting zone is ZIP code 87549?

ZIP code 87549 (Ojo Caliente, 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 Ojo Caliente, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 87549 is May 15; after June 4 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, El Rito station.

When is the first frost in Ojo Caliente, NM?

The median first fall frost near 87549 is October 7, giving a median frost-free growing season of 143 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 87549?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 20 – Apr 3 and set transplants outside around May 22 – Jun 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 87549 get?

About 12.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Alcalde 19 N station).

How hot do summers get in Ojo Caliente, NM?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 17 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 87549 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Vibo at the center of ZIP 87549: sandy loam, well drained, pH about 7.2 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Ojo Caliente, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 87549 came on Mar 10 in 2026, 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 27), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Ojo Caliente, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 87549 is 14 h 38 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 87549 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 87549 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.