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

Planting zone for 87575 — Tierra Amarilla, NM

ZIP code 87575 (Tierra Amarilla, Rio Arriba County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is June 13 and the first fall frost September 18.

Where ZIP 87575 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostJun 13
First frostSep 18
2012 zone5a

Was 5a 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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Tierra Amarilla, 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 Tierra Amarilla, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostJune 13median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJuly 1only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 18median — 10% chance by Sep 5
Growing season94 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 28 and returns around September 26.

From the NOAA station El Vado Dam, NM — 8 miles away, elevation 6,739 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 87575

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
SpinachSow outdoors · May 2 – May 23
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 23 – Jun 6
Onion setsPlant outdoors · May 16 – May 30
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
LettuceSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 18 – May 2
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 20 – Jul 4
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 27 – Jul 11
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 20 – Jul 4
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 20 – Jul 4
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 20 – Jul 4
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 24 – Aug 7
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 4 – Oct 9
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Jun 13) and first fall frost (Sep 18) 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 87575 came on Mar 23 — 21 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 13).

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 5b in New Mexico

481 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New Mexico, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 25

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 80

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 216

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 152

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 fescue2 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −23 °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 Tierra Amarilla, NM.

Soil in Tierra Amarilla, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 87575 is Menefee — channery loam, well drained.

TextureChannery loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.9alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Menefee channery loam, 2 to 35 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 87575; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Tierra Amarilla, NM

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low9 °Faverage low, January
Hot days17days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights218nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,650base 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
Precipitation14.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall36 inper year

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 40 °F, low 9 °F 40°9° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 14 °F 43°14° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 21 °F 52°21° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 25 °F 59°25° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 33 °F 69°33° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 40 °F 80°40° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 49 °F 85°49° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 48 °F 82°48° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 39 °F 76°39° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 28 °F 64°28° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 18 °F 51°18° NovDecember: average high 40 °F, low 10 °F 40°10° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 0.86 in precipitation, 10.4 in snowfall 0.9❄10 JanFebruary: 0.88 in precipitation, 7.3 in snowfall 0.9❄7 FebMarch: 0.80 in precipitation, 2.2 in snowfall 0.8❄2 MarApril: 1.08 in precipitation, 2.2 in snowfall 1.1❄2 AprMay: 1.04 in precipitation 1.0 MayJune: 0.70 in precipitation 0.7 JunJuly: 1.84 in precipitation 1.8 JulAugust: 2.16 in precipitation 2.2 AugSeptember: 1.67 in precipitation 1.7 SepOctober: 1.33 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 1.3❄1 OctNovember: 0.83 in precipitation, 3.3 in snowfall 0.8❄3 NovDecember: 0.94 in precipitation, 9.6 in snowfall 0.9❄10 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: El Vado Dam, NM (8 mi away); precipitation: El Vado Dam, NM (8 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.

875515b
Los Ojos, NM · 5 mi
875185b
Cebolla, NM · 9 mi
875156a
Canjilon, NM · 13 mi
875205b
Chama, NM · 16 mi
875285b
Dulce, NM · 19 mi
875107a
Abiquiu, NM · 21 mi
870176b
Gallina, NM · 24 mi
875816b
Vallecitos, NM · 26 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 87575

What planting zone is ZIP code 87575?

ZIP code 87575 (Tierra Amarilla, NM) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in Tierra Amarilla, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 87575 is June 13; after July 1 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, El Vado Dam station.

When is the first frost in Tierra Amarilla, NM?

The median first fall frost near 87575 is September 18, giving a median frost-free growing season of 94 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 87575?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Apr 18 – May 2 and set transplants outside around Jun 20 – Jul 4, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 87575 get?

About 14.1 inches of precipitation a year and 36 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, El Vado Dam station).

How hot do summers get in Tierra Amarilla, NM?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 17 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 87575 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Menefee at the center of ZIP 87575: channery loam, well drained, pH about 7.9 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Tierra Amarilla, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 87575 came on Mar 23 in 2026, 21 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 13), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Tierra Amarilla, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 87575 is 14 h 40 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 87575 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 87575 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.