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

Planting zone for 88031 — Deming, NM

ZIP code 88031 (Deming, Luna County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 7 and the first fall frost November 3.

Where ZIP 88031 is

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 7
First frostNov 3
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 Deming, 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 Deming, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 7median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 25only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 3median — 10% chance by Oct 21
Growing season208 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 16 and returns around November 13.

From the NOAA station Deming, NM — within 1 mile, elevation 4,301 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 88031

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 27 – Feb 10
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 27 – Feb 10
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 8 – Sep 22
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 20 – Nov 24
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 7) and first fall frost (Nov 3) 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 88031 came on Feb 5 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 10).

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 Deming, NM.

Soil in Deming, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 88031 is Karro — silty clay loam, well drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH8.2alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Karro silty clay 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 88031; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Deming, NM

Summer high97 °Faverage high, June
Winter low28 °Faverage low, January
Hot days106days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights92nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,029base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 16 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 02 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation8.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall1 inper year

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 58 °F, low 28 °F 58°28° JanFebruary: average high 64 °F, low 31 °F 64°31° FebMarch: average high 72 °F, low 36 °F 72°36° MarApril: average high 80 °F, low 43 °F 80°43° AprMay: average high 88 °F, low 50 °F 88°50° MayJune: average high 97 °F, low 60 °F 97°60° JunJuly: average high 96 °F, low 66 °F 96°66° JulAugust: average high 94 °F, low 64 °F 94°64° AugSeptember: average high 89 °F, low 58 °F 89°58° SepOctober: average high 80 °F, low 46 °F 80°46° OctNovember: average high 67 °F, low 34 °F 67°34° NovDecember: average high 57 °F, low 28 °F 57°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″January: 0.60 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 0.6❄1 JanFebruary: 0.49 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 0.5 FebMarch: 0.27 in precipitation 0.3 MarApril: 0.27 in precipitation 0.3 AprMay: 0.24 in precipitation 0.2 MayJune: 0.36 in precipitation 0.4 JunJuly: 1.86 in precipitation 1.9 JulAugust: 1.53 in precipitation 1.5 AugSeptember: 0.93 in precipitation 0.9 SepOctober: 0.77 in precipitation 0.8 OctNovember: 0.66 in precipitation 0.7 NovDecember: 0.79 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 0.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Deming, NM (within 1 mile); precipitation: Deming, NM (within 1 mile). 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.

880308a
Deming, NM · 5 mi
880298a
Columbus, NM · 27 mi
880348a
Faywood, NM · 28 mi
880438a
Hurley, NM · 33 mi
880237b
Bayard, NM · 39 mi
879378a
Hatch, NM · 40 mi
880627b
Silver City, NM · 41 mi
880448b
La Mesa, NM · 41 mi

All 2 ZIP codes in Deming → · New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 88031

What planting zone is ZIP code 88031?

ZIP code 88031 (Deming, 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 Deming, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 88031 is April 7; after April 25 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Deming station.

When is the first frost in Deming, NM?

The median first fall frost near 88031 is November 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 208 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 88031?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 10 – Feb 24 and set transplants outside around Apr 14 – Apr 28, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 88031 get?

About 8.8 inches of precipitation a year and 1 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Deming station).

How hot do summers get in Deming, NM?

The average high peaks at 97 °F in June, with about 106 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 88031 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Karro at the center of ZIP 88031: silty clay loam, well drained, pH about 8.2 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Deming, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 88031 came on Feb 5 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 10), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Deming, NM?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 88031 is 14 h 16 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.