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

Planting zone for 87939 — Monticello, NM

ZIP code 87939 (Monticello, Sierra County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is March 22 and the first fall frost November 9.

Where ZIP 87939 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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
Coldest night−15 to −12.2 °C
Last frostMar 22
First frostNov 9
2012 zone7b

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 7b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Monticello, 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 Monticello, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 22median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 10only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 9median — 10% chance by Oct 27
Growing season230 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 4 and returns around November 19.

From the NOAA station Truth Or Consequence Airport, NM — 10 miles away, elevation 4,849 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 87939

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 8 – Mar 1
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 11 – Jan 25
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 11 – Jan 25
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 14 – Sep 28
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 26 – Nov 30
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 22) and first fall frost (Nov 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 87939 came on Feb 6 — 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 17).

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 7b in New Mexico

535 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New Mexico, and rated by the USDA to survive 5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7b. 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 103

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 229

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 166

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 Monticello, NM.

Soil in Monticello, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 87939 is Lehmans — very stony clay loam, well drained.

TextureVery stony clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Lehmans-Luzena association, very steep.

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 87939; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Monticello, NM

Summer high94 °Faverage high, June
Winter low30 °Faverage low, January
Hot days88days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights71nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,051base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 22 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 56 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation9.2 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 55 °F, low 30 °F 55°30° JanFebruary: average high 61 °F, low 34 °F 61°34° FebMarch: average high 68 °F, low 40 °F 68°40° MarApril: average high 76 °F, low 47 °F 76°47° AprMay: average high 85 °F, low 56 °F 85°56° MayJune: average high 94 °F, low 64 °F 94°64° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 68 °F 93°68° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 66 °F 91°66° AugSeptember: average high 85 °F, low 60 °F 85°60° SepOctober: average high 76 °F, low 49 °F 76°49° OctNovember: average high 63 °F, low 37 °F 63°37° NovDecember: average high 54 °F, low 30 °F 54°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″January: 0.45 in precipitation 0.5 JanFebruary: 0.30 in precipitation 0.3 FebMarch: 0.24 in precipitation 0.2 MarApril: 0.27 in precipitation 0.3 AprMay: 0.55 in precipitation 0.6 MayJune: 0.41 in precipitation 0.4 JunJuly: 1.63 in precipitation 1.6 JulAugust: 1.76 in precipitation 1.8 AugSeptember: 1.70 in precipitation 1.7 SepOctober: 0.73 in precipitation 0.7 OctNovember: 0.51 in precipitation 0.5 NovDecember: 0.60 in precipitation 0.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Truth Or Consequence Airport, NM (10 mi away); precipitation: Truth Or Consequence Airport, NM (10 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.

879358a
Elephant Butte, NM · 10 mi
879437a
Winston, NM · 21 mi
879428a
Williamsburg, NM · 22 mi
879018a
Truth Or Consequences, NM · 24 mi
879318a
Caballo, NM · 31 mi
876547b
Spaceport City, NM · 34 mi
879308a
Arrey, NM · 38 mi
879338a
Derry, NM · 40 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 87939

What planting zone is ZIP code 87939?

ZIP code 87939 (Monticello, NM) is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 5 to 10 °F (−15 to −12.2 °C).

When is the last frost in Monticello, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 87939 is March 22; after April 10 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Truth Or Consequence Airport station.

When is the first frost in Monticello, NM?

The median first fall frost near 87939 is November 9, giving a median frost-free growing season of 230 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 87939?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 25 – Feb 8 and set transplants outside around Mar 29 – Apr 12, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 87939 get?

About 9.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Truth Or Consequence Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Monticello, NM?

The average high peaks at 94 °F in June, with about 88 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 87939 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Lehmans at the center of ZIP 87939: very stony clay loam, well drained, pH about 7.2 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Monticello, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 87939 came on Feb 6 in 2026, 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 17), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Monticello, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 87939 is 14 h 22 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.