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

Planting zone for 87577 — Tres Piedras, NM

ZIP code 87577 (Tres Piedras, Taos County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 31 and the first fall frost September 28.

Where ZIP 87577 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 frostMay 31
First frostSep 28
2012 zone5b

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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Tres Piedras, 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 Tres Piedras, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 31median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 28median — 10% chance by Sep 15
Growing season118 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 19 and returns around October 5.

From the NOAA station Tres Piedras, NM — 2 miles away, elevation 8,140 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 87577

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 10 – May 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · May 3 – May 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 10 – May 24
LettuceSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 7 – Jun 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 14 – Jun 28
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 7 – Jun 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 7 – Jun 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 7 – Jun 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 3 – Aug 17
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 14 – Oct 19
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 31) and first fall frost (Sep 28) 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 87577 came on Mar 23 — 29 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 21).

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 Tres Piedras, NM.

Soil in Tres Piedras, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 87577 is Elbuck family — cobbly sandy loam, well drained.

TextureCobbly sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Elbuck-Laventana families complex, 15 to 40 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 87577; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Tres Piedras, NM

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low8 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights216nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,481base 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
Precipitation27.9 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 38 °F, low 8 °F 38°8° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 12 °F 41°12° FebMarch: average high 50 °F, low 20 °F 50°20° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 26 °F 59°26° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 33 °F 66°33° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 43 °F 79°43° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 48 °F 81°48° JulAugust: average high 78 °F, low 47 °F 78°47° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 40 °F 72°40° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 29 °F 62°29° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 18 °F 48°18° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 10 °F 39°10° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 JanFebruary: 3.49 in precipitation 3.5 FebMarch: 3.18 in precipitation 3.2 MarApril: 2.40 in precipitation 2.4 AprMay: 1.51 in precipitation 1.5 MayJune: 0.46 in precipitation 0.5 JunJuly: 1.64 in precipitation 1.6 JulAugust: 2.28 in precipitation 2.3 AugSeptember: 1.69 in precipitation 1.7 SepOctober: 1.88 in precipitation 1.9 OctNovember: 2.62 in precipitation 2.6 NovDecember: 3.24 in precipitation 3.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Tres Piedras, NM (2 mi away); precipitation: Hopewell, NM (16 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

875546b
Petaca, NM · 7 mi
875816b
Vallecitos, NM · 12 mi
875135b
Arroyo Hondo, NM · 17 mi
875396b
La Madera, NM · 18 mi
875176a
Carson, NM · 21 mi
875645b
San Cristobal, NM · 21 mi
875156a
Canjilon, NM · 22 mi
875195b
Cerro, NM · 22 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 87577

What planting zone is ZIP code 87577?

ZIP code 87577 (Tres Piedras, 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 Tres Piedras, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 87577 is May 31; after June 18 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Tres Piedras station.

When is the first frost in Tres Piedras, NM?

The median first fall frost near 87577 is September 28, giving a median frost-free growing season of 118 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 87577?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Apr 5 – Apr 19 and set transplants outside around Jun 7 – Jun 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 87577 get?

About 27.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hopewell station).

How hot do summers get in Tres Piedras, NM?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 87577 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Elbuck family at the center of ZIP 87577: cobbly sandy loam, well drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Tres Piedras, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 87577 came on Mar 23 in 2026, 29 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 21), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Tres Piedras, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 87577 is 14 h 40 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.