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

Planting zone for 88012 — Las Cruces, NM

ZIP code 88012 (Las Cruces, Doña Ana County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 24 and the first fall frost October 24.

Where ZIP 88012 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 frostApr 24
First frostOct 24
2012 zone8a

Was 8a on the 2012 map — half a zone colder now. 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 Las Cruces, 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 Las Cruces, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 24median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 8only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 24median — 10% chance by Oct 10
Growing season181 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 9 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Las Cruces 20 N, NM — 2 miles away, elevation 4,328 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 88012

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Apr 3
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
TomatoesTransplant · May 1 – May 15
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 8 – May 22
BeansSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 29 – Sep 12
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 10 – Nov 14
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 24) and first fall frost (Oct 24) 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 88012 came on Feb 8 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 13).

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 Las Cruces, NM.

Soil in Las Cruces, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 88012 is Onite — loamy fine sand, well drained.

TextureLoamy fine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.6slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.65%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Onite-Pintura complex.

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 88012; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Las Cruces, NM

Summer high95 °Faverage high, June
Winter low23 °Faverage low, December
Hot days96days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights116nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,471base 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
Precipitation10.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 56 °F, low 24 °F 56°24° JanFebruary: average high 62 °F, low 27 °F 62°27° FebMarch: average high 69 °F, low 32 °F 69°32° MarApril: average high 77 °F, low 39 °F 77°39° AprMay: average high 85 °F, low 47 °F 85°47° MayJune: average high 95 °F, low 59 °F 95°59° JunJuly: average high 94 °F, low 66 °F 94°66° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 64 °F 91°64° AugSeptember: average high 86 °F, low 56 °F 86°56° SepOctober: average high 77 °F, low 42 °F 77°42° OctNovember: average high 66 °F, low 31 °F 66°31° NovDecember: average high 55 °F, low 23 °F 55°23° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 0.63 in precipitation 0.6 JanFebruary: 0.37 in precipitation 0.4 FebMarch: 0.21 in precipitation 0.2 MarApril: 0.19 in precipitation 0.2 AprMay: 0.42 in precipitation 0.4 MayJune: 0.85 in precipitation 0.8 JunJuly: 2.30 in precipitation 2.3 JulAugust: 2.20 in precipitation 2.2 AugSeptember: 1.10 in precipitation 1.1 SepOctober: 0.79 in precipitation 0.8 OctNovember: 0.61 in precipitation 0.6 NovDecember: 0.59 in precipitation 0.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Las Cruces 20 N, NM (2 mi away); precipitation: Las Cruces 20 N, NM (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

880138b
Las Cruces, NM · <1 mi
880548a
Radium Springs, NM · 11 mi
880528b
Organ, NM · 14 mi
879408a
Rincon, NM · 14 mi
880078b
Las Cruces, NM · 18 mi
880118b
Las Cruces, NM · 19 mi
880068b
Las Cruces, NM · 20 mi
880018b
Las Cruces, NM · 21 mi

All 9 ZIP codes in Las Cruces → · New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 88012

What planting zone is ZIP code 88012?

ZIP code 88012 (Las Cruces, 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 Las Cruces, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 88012 is April 24; after May 8 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Las Cruces 20 N station.

When is the first frost in Las Cruces, NM?

The median first fall frost near 88012 is October 24, giving a median frost-free growing season of 181 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 88012?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 27 – Mar 13 and set transplants outside around May 1 – May 15, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 88012 get?

About 10.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Las Cruces 20 N station).

How hot do summers get in Las Cruces, NM?

The average high peaks at 95 °F in June, with about 96 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 88012 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Onite at the center of ZIP 88012: loamy fine sand, well drained, pH about 7.6 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Las Cruces, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 88012 came on Feb 8 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 13), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Las Cruces, NM?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 88012 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 88012 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 88012 in zone 8a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.