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

Planting zone for 88020 — Animas, NM

ZIP code 88020 (Animas, Hidalgo County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 2 and the first fall frost November 7.

Where ZIP 88020 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 frostApr 2
First frostNov 7
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 Animas, 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 Animas, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 2median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 7median — 10% chance by Oct 23
Growing season218 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 11 and returns around November 18.

From the NOAA station Animas 3ese, NM — 11 miles away, elevation 4,502 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 88020

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 12
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 22 – Feb 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 22 – Feb 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 12 – Sep 26
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 24 – Nov 28
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 2) and first fall frost (Nov 7) 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 88020 came on Feb 5 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 9).

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 Animas, NM.

Soil in Animas, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 88020 is Forrest — gravelly loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Forrest gravelly loam.

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 88020; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Animas, NM

Summer high95 °Faverage high, June
Winter low31 °Faverage low, January
Hot days97days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights74nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,091base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 14 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 04 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
Snowfall4 inper year

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 57 °F, low 31 °F 57°31° JanFebruary: average high 62 °F, low 34 °F 62°34° FebMarch: average high 69 °F, low 39 °F 69°39° MarApril: average high 77 °F, low 45 °F 77°45° AprMay: average high 86 °F, low 54 °F 86°54° MayJune: average high 95 °F, low 63 °F 95°63° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 67 °F 93°67° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 66 °F 90°66° AugSeptember: average high 86 °F, low 61 °F 86°61° SepOctober: average high 78 °F, low 49 °F 78°49° OctNovember: average high 66 °F, low 38 °F 66°38° NovDecember: average high 56 °F, low 31 °F 56°31° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 0.71 in precipitation, 1.7 in snowfall 0.7❄2 JanFebruary: 0.51 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 0.5❄1 FebMarch: 0.40 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 0.4 MarApril: 0.18 in precipitation 0.2 AprMay: 0.20 in precipitation 0.2 MayJune: 0.50 in precipitation 0.5 JunJuly: 2.29 in precipitation 2.3 JulAugust: 1.95 in precipitation 1.9 AugSeptember: 1.00 in precipitation 1.0 SepOctober: 0.99 in precipitation 1.0 OctNovember: 0.59 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 0.6 NovDecember: 1.03 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 1.0❄1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Animas 3ese, NM (11 mi away); precipitation: Animas 3ese, NM (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8a.

880568a
Rodeo, NM · 11 mi
880098a
Playas, NM · 19 mi
856328a
San Simon, AZ · 28 mi
880408a
Hachita, NM · 31 mi
856078a
Douglas, AZ · 36 mi
880458a
Lordsburg, NM · 39 mi
856258a
Pearce, AZ · 50 mi
856088a
Douglas, AZ · 50 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 88020

What planting zone is ZIP code 88020?

ZIP code 88020 (Animas, 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 Animas, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 88020 is April 2; after April 21 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Animas 3ese station.

When is the first frost in Animas, NM?

The median first fall frost near 88020 is November 7, giving a median frost-free growing season of 218 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 88020?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 5 – Feb 19 and set transplants outside around Apr 9 – Apr 23, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 88020 get?

About 10.3 inches of precipitation a year and 4 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Animas 3ese station).

How hot do summers get in Animas, NM?

The average high peaks at 95 °F in June, with about 97 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 88020 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Forrest at the center of ZIP 88020: gravelly loam, well drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Animas, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 88020 came on Feb 5 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 9), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Animas, NM?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 88020 is 14 h 14 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.