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

Planting zone for 88002 — White Sands Missile Range, NM

ZIP code 88002 (White Sands Missile Range, Doña Ana County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 12 and the first fall frost November 13.

Where ZIP 88002 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
Coldest night−9.4 to −6.7 °C
Last frostMar 12
First frostNov 13
2012 zone8b

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 8b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for White Sands Missile Range, 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 White Sands Missile Range, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 12median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 2only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 13median — 10% chance by Oct 30
Growing season241 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 26 and returns around November 24.

From the NOAA station State Univ, NM — 19 miles away, elevation 3,888 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 88002

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 29 – Feb 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 1 – Jan 15
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 15 – Jan 29
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 1 – Jan 15
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 26 – Apr 9
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 18 – Oct 2
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 30 – Dec 4
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 12) and first fall frost (Nov 13) 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 88002 came on Feb 6 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 7).

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 8b in New Mexico

551 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 8b. 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 109

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 171

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 White Sands Missile Range, NM.

Soil in White Sands Missile Range, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 88002 is Queencreek — very gravelly sand, excessively drained.

TextureVery gravelly sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.8slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.7%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Queencreek-Agustin-Stagecoach complex, 0 to 14 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 88002; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in White Sands Missile Range, NM

Summer high96 °Faverage high, June
Winter low30 °Faverage low, January
Hot days109days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights69nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,425base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 17 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 01 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation9.9 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 30 °F 59°30° JanFebruary: average high 64 °F, low 34 °F 64°34° FebMarch: average high 71 °F, low 39 °F 71°39° MarApril: average high 79 °F, low 46 °F 79°46° AprMay: average high 87 °F, low 54 °F 87°54° MayJune: average high 96 °F, low 64 °F 96°64° JunJuly: average high 96 °F, low 69 °F 96°69° JulAugust: average high 94 °F, low 68 °F 94°68° AugSeptember: average high 88 °F, low 61 °F 88°61° SepOctober: average high 80 °F, low 48 °F 80°48° OctNovember: average high 68 °F, low 37 °F 68°37° NovDecember: average high 58 °F, low 30 °F 58°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″January: 0.53 in precipitation 0.5 JanFebruary: 0.44 in precipitation 0.4 FebMarch: 0.41 in precipitation 0.4 MarApril: 0.29 in precipitation 0.3 AprMay: 0.45 in precipitation 0.5 MayJune: 0.46 in precipitation 0.5 JunJuly: 1.89 in precipitation 1.9 JulAugust: 1.88 in precipitation 1.9 AugSeptember: 1.48 in precipitation 1.5 SepOctober: 0.93 in precipitation 0.9 OctNovember: 0.49 in precipitation 0.5 NovDecember: 0.69 in precipitation 0.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: State Univ, NM (19 mi away); precipitation: White Sands 1.3 Ese, NM (within 1 mile). 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.

880118b
Las Cruces, NM · 7 mi
880528b
Organ, NM · 10 mi
880818b
Chaparral, NM · 15 mi
880038b
Las Cruces, NM · 18 mi
880478b
Mesilla Park, NM · 19 mi
880728b
Vado, NM · 19 mi
880488b
Mesquite, NM · 20 mi
883428a
Orogrande, NM · 20 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 88002

What planting zone is ZIP code 88002?

ZIP code 88002 (White Sands Missile Range, NM) is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 15 to 20 °F (−9.4 to −6.7 °C).

When is the last frost in White Sands Missile Range, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 88002 is March 12; after April 2 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, State Univ station.

When is the first frost in White Sands Missile Range, NM?

The median first fall frost near 88002 is November 13, giving a median frost-free growing season of 241 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 88002?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 15 – Jan 29 and set transplants outside around Mar 19 – Apr 2, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 88002 get?

About 9.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, White Sands 1.3 Ese station).

How hot do summers get in White Sands Missile Range, NM?

The average high peaks at 96 °F in June, with about 109 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 88002 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Queencreek at the center of ZIP 88002: very gravelly sand, excessively drained, pH about 7.8 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in White Sands Missile Range, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 88002 came on Feb 6 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in White Sands Missile Range, NM?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 88002 is 14 h 17 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.