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

Planting zone for 87937 — Hatch, NM

ZIP code 87937 (Hatch, Doña Ana County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is March 25 and the first fall frost November 6.

Where ZIP 87937 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 25
First frostNov 6
2012 zone7b

Was 7b 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 8a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Hatch, 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 Hatch, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 25median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 17only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 6median — 10% chance by Oct 24
Growing season224 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 7 and returns around November 18.

From the NOAA station Caballo Dam, NM — 22 miles away, elevation 4,239 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 87937

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 11 – Mar 4
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 14 – Jan 28
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 14 – Jan 28
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 11 – Sep 25
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 23 – Nov 27
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 25) and first fall frost (Nov 6) 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 87937 came on Feb 9 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 8).

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 Hatch, NM.

Soil in Hatch, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 87937 is Motoqua — cobbly loam, well drained.

TextureCobbly loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Motoqua-Rock outcrop association.

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 87937; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Hatch, NM

Summer high98 °Faverage high, July
Winter low29 °Faverage low, January
Hot days114days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights90nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,472base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 18 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 00 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation10.2 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 59 °F, low 29 °F 59°29° JanFebruary: average high 65 °F, low 32 °F 65°32° FebMarch: average high 72 °F, low 39 °F 72°39° MarApril: average high 79 °F, low 45 °F 79°45° AprMay: average high 88 °F, low 54 °F 88°54° MayJune: average high 97 °F, low 63 °F 97°63° JunJuly: average high 98 °F, low 69 °F 98°69° JulAugust: average high 95 °F, low 67 °F 95°67° AugSeptember: average high 89 °F, low 59 °F 89°59° SepOctober: average high 80 °F, low 47 °F 80°47° OctNovember: average high 68 °F, low 36 °F 68°36° NovDecember: average high 58 °F, low 29 °F 58°29° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 0.54 in precipitation 0.5 JanFebruary: 0.53 in precipitation 0.5 FebMarch: 0.15 in precipitation 0.1 MarApril: 0.25 in precipitation 0.3 AprMay: 0.46 in precipitation 0.5 MayJune: 0.33 in precipitation 0.3 JunJuly: 2.70 in precipitation 2.7 JulAugust: 1.83 in precipitation 1.8 AugSeptember: 1.18 in precipitation 1.2 SepOctober: 0.87 in precipitation 0.9 OctNovember: 0.47 in precipitation 0.5 NovDecember: 0.84 in precipitation 0.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Caballo Dam, NM (22 mi away); precipitation: Hatch 6.9 Ese, NM (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

879418a
Salem, NM · 8 mi
879408a
Rincon, NM · 12 mi
879368a
Garfield, NM · 12 mi
879338a
Derry, NM · 15 mi
880548a
Radium Springs, NM · 18 mi
879308a
Arrey, NM · 19 mi
880078b
Las Cruces, NM · 19 mi
879318a
Caballo, NM · 25 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 87937

What planting zone is ZIP code 87937?

ZIP code 87937 (Hatch, 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 Hatch, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 87937 is March 25; after April 17 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Caballo Dam station.

When is the first frost in Hatch, NM?

The median first fall frost near 87937 is November 6, giving a median frost-free growing season of 224 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 87937?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 28 – Feb 11 and set transplants outside around Apr 1 – Apr 15, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 87937 get?

About 10.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hatch 6.9 Ese station).

How hot do summers get in Hatch, NM?

The average high peaks at 98 °F in July, with about 114 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 87937 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Motoqua at the center of ZIP 87937: cobbly loam, well drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Hatch, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 87937 came on Feb 9 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 8), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Hatch, NM?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 87937 is 14 h 18 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

Did the zone for 87937 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 87937 in zone 7b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.