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

Planting zone for 88025 — Buckhorn, NM

ZIP code 88025 (Buckhorn, Grant County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 6 and the first fall frost October 18.

Where ZIP 88025 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 frostMay 6
First frostOct 18
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 Buckhorn, 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 Buckhorn, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 18median — 10% chance by Oct 7
Growing season164 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 21 and returns around October 28.

From the NOAA station Glenwood, NM — 17 miles away, elevation 4,725 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 88025

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesTransplant · May 13 – May 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
BeansSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 23 – Sep 6
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 4 – Nov 8
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (Oct 18) 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 88025 came on Feb 9 — 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 20).

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 Buckhorn, NM.

Soil in Buckhorn, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 88025 is Lonti — gravelly loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.2neutral; 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: Lonti-Manzano association, 1 to 25 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 88025; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Buckhorn, NM

Summer high91 °Faverage high, June
Winter low23 °Faverage low, January
Hot days65days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights130nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,460base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 20 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 58 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation14.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall2 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 57 °F, low 23 °F 57°23° JanFebruary: average high 61 °F, low 26 °F 61°26° FebMarch: average high 67 °F, low 30 °F 67°30° MarApril: average high 74 °F, low 34 °F 74°34° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 41 °F 82°41° MayJune: average high 91 °F, low 50 °F 91°50° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 58 °F 91°58° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 58 °F 89°58° AugSeptember: average high 85 °F, low 50 °F 85°50° SepOctober: average high 76 °F, low 39 °F 76°39° OctNovember: average high 65 °F, low 29 °F 65°29° NovDecember: average high 57 °F, low 23 °F 57°23° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 1.19 in precipitation, 1.3 in snowfall 1.2❄1 JanFebruary: 1.04 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 1.0 FebMarch: 0.72 in precipitation 0.7 MarApril: 0.23 in precipitation 0.2 AprMay: 0.36 in precipitation 0.4 MayJune: 0.50 in precipitation 0.5 JunJuly: 2.77 in precipitation 2.8 JulAugust: 2.36 in precipitation 2.4 AugSeptember: 2.00 in precipitation 2.0 SepOctober: 1.07 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.1 OctNovember: 0.84 in precipitation 0.8 NovDecember: 1.29 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 1.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Glenwood, NM (17 mi away); precipitation: Buckhorn, NM (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

880287b
Cliff, NM · 10 mi
880517b
Mule Creek, NM · 14 mi
880397a
Glenwood, NM · 15 mi
880387b
Gila, NM · 21 mi
880557b
Redrock, NM · 26 mi
880537b
Pinos Altos, NM · 33 mi
859228a
Blue, AZ · 36 mi
855348a
Duncan, AZ · 36 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 88025

What planting zone is ZIP code 88025?

ZIP code 88025 (Buckhorn, 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 Buckhorn, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 88025 is May 6; after May 20 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Glenwood station.

When is the first frost in Buckhorn, NM?

The median first fall frost near 88025 is October 18, giving a median frost-free growing season of 164 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 88025?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 11 – Mar 25 and set transplants outside around May 13 – May 27, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 88025 get?

About 14.4 inches of precipitation a year and 2 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Buckhorn station).

How hot do summers get in Buckhorn, NM?

The average high peaks at 91 °F in June, with about 65 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 88025 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Lonti at the center of ZIP 88025: gravelly loam, well drained, pH about 7.2 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Buckhorn, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 88025 came on Feb 9 in 2026, 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 20), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Buckhorn, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 88025 is 14 h 20 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.