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

Planting zone for 87901 — Truth Or Consequences, NM

ZIP code 87901 (Truth Or Consequences, Sierra County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is March 13 and the first fall frost November 15.

Where ZIP 87901 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.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
Coldest night−12.2 to −9.4 °C
Last frostMar 13
First frostNov 15
2012 zone8a

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 8a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Truth Or Consequences, 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 Truth Or Consequences, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 13median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 2only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 15median — 10% chance by Nov 1
Growing season243 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 1 and returns around November 26.

From the NOAA station Elephant Butte Dam, NM — 10 miles away, elevation 4,570 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 87901

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 30 – Feb 13
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 30 – Feb 20
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 2 – Jan 16
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 16 – Jan 30
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 2 – Jan 16
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 27 – Apr 10
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 20 – Oct 4
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 1 – Dec 6
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 13) and first fall frost (Nov 15) 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 87901 came on Feb 7 — 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 15).

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 8a in New Mexico

542 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 8a. 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 104

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 232

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 167

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 Truth Or Consequences, NM.

Soil in Truth Or Consequences, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 87901 is Simona — loamy fine sand, well drained.

TextureLoamy fine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.9alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.45%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Simona loamy fine sand, gently sloping.

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 87901; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Truth Or Consequences, NM

Summer high96 °Faverage high, June
Winter low30 °Faverage low, January
Hot days96days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights69nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,574base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 21 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 57 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation10.7 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 57 °F, low 30 °F 57°30° JanFebruary: average high 62 °F, low 34 °F 62°34° FebMarch: average high 69 °F, low 40 °F 69°40° MarApril: average high 78 °F, low 49 °F 78°49° AprMay: average high 86 °F, low 58 °F 86°58° MayJune: average high 96 °F, low 67 °F 96°67° JunJuly: average high 96 °F, low 70 °F 96°70° JulAugust: average high 93 °F, low 69 °F 93°69° AugSeptember: average high 88 °F, low 62 °F 88°62° SepOctober: average high 78 °F, low 50 °F 78°50° OctNovember: average high 66 °F, low 38 °F 66°38° NovDecember: average high 56 °F, low 30 °F 56°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 0.51 in precipitation 0.5 JanFebruary: 0.49 in precipitation 0.5 FebMarch: 0.25 in precipitation 0.3 MarApril: 0.32 in precipitation 0.3 AprMay: 0.52 in precipitation 0.5 MayJune: 0.86 in precipitation 0.9 JunJuly: 1.98 in precipitation 2.0 JulAugust: 2.02 in precipitation 2.0 AugSeptember: 1.53 in precipitation 1.5 SepOctober: 0.91 in precipitation 0.9 OctNovember: 0.66 in precipitation 0.7 NovDecember: 0.67 in precipitation 0.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Elephant Butte Dam, NM (10 mi away); precipitation: Engle 4.0 Ese, NM (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

876547b
Spaceport City, NM · 12 mi
879358a
Elephant Butte, NM · 14 mi
879428a
Williamsburg, NM · 20 mi
879397b
Monticello, NM · 24 mi
879318a
Caballo, NM · 25 mi
879338a
Derry, NM · 30 mi
879308a
Arrey, NM · 30 mi
879368a
Garfield, NM · 32 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 87901

What planting zone is ZIP code 87901?

ZIP code 87901 (Truth Or Consequences, NM) is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 10 to 15 °F (−12.2 to −9.4 °C).

When is the last frost in Truth Or Consequences, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 87901 is March 13; after April 2 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elephant Butte Dam station.

When is the first frost in Truth Or Consequences, NM?

The median first fall frost near 87901 is November 15, giving a median frost-free growing season of 243 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 87901?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 16 – Jan 30 and set transplants outside around Mar 20 – Apr 3, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 87901 get?

About 10.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Engle 4.0 Ese station).

How hot do summers get in Truth Or Consequences, NM?

The average high peaks at 96 °F in June, with about 96 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 87901 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Simona at the center of ZIP 87901: loamy fine sand, well drained, pH about 7.9 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Truth Or Consequences, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 87901 came on Feb 7 in 2026, 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 15), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Truth Or Consequences, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 87901 is 14 h 21 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.