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

Planting zone for 87827 — Pie Town, NM

ZIP code 87827 (Pie Town, Catron County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 12 and the first fall frost October 9.

Where ZIP 87827 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 12
First frostOct 9
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 Pie Town, 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 Pie Town, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 12median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 9median — 10% chance by Sep 27
Growing season149 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 30 and returns around October 19.

From the NOAA station Pietown 19ne, NM — 17 miles away, elevation 7,963 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 87827

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
TomatoesTransplant · May 19 – Jun 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 26 – Jun 9
BeansSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 14 – Aug 28
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 25 – Oct 30
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 12) and first fall frost (Oct 9) 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 87827 came on Mar 2 — 30 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 1).

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 Pie Town, NM.

Soil in Pie Town, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 87827 is Flugle — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine 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 matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Flugle-Typic Ustorthents association, 2 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 87827; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Pie Town, NM

Summer high83 °Faverage high, June
Winter low20 °Faverage low, January
Hot days6days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights162nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,286base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 27 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 51 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation14.4 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 43 °F, low 20 °F 43°20° JanFebruary: average high 47 °F, low 23 °F 47°23° FebMarch: average high 56 °F, low 27 °F 56°27° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 33 °F 64°33° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 41 °F 73°41° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 50 °F 83°50° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 53 °F 83°53° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 52 °F 80°52° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 46 °F 75°46° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 37 °F 64°37° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 27 °F 52°27° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 20 °F 43°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 0.91 in precipitation 0.9 JanFebruary: 0.84 in precipitation 0.8 FebMarch: 0.71 in precipitation 0.7 MarApril: 0.77 in precipitation 0.8 AprMay: 0.77 in precipitation 0.8 MayJune: 0.64 in precipitation 0.6 JunJuly: 2.29 in precipitation 2.3 JulAugust: 2.89 in precipitation 2.9 AugSeptember: 1.51 in precipitation 1.5 SepOctober: 1.11 in precipitation 1.1 OctNovember: 0.85 in precipitation 0.8 NovDecember: 1.09 in precipitation 1.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Pietown 19ne, NM (17 mi away); precipitation: Quemado 8.0 Ne, NM (16 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

878216a
Datil, NM · 29 mi
878296a
Quemado, NM · 31 mi
873156a
Fence Lake, NM · 31 mi
873575b
Pinehill, NM · 36 mi
878206a
Aragon, NM · 39 mi
878257a
Magdalena, NM · 40 mi
870206a
Grants, NM · 47 mi
870346b
Pueblo Of Acoma, NM · 48 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 87827

What planting zone is ZIP code 87827?

ZIP code 87827 (Pie Town, 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 Pie Town, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 87827 is May 12; after May 31 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pietown 19ne station.

When is the first frost in Pie Town, NM?

The median first fall frost near 87827 is October 9, giving a median frost-free growing season of 149 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 87827?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 17 – Mar 31 and set transplants outside around May 19 – Jun 2, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 87827 get?

About 14.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Quemado 8.0 Ne station).

How hot do summers get in Pie Town, NM?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in June, with about 6 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 87827 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Flugle at the center of ZIP 87827: fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Pie Town, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 87827 came on Mar 2 in 2026, 30 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 1), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Pie Town, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 87827 is 14 h 27 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.