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

Planting zone for 88036 — Fort Bayard, NM

ZIP code 88036 (Fort Bayard, Grant County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 4 and the first fall frost November 8.

Where ZIP 88036 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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
Coldest night−15 to −12.2 °C
Last frostApr 4
First frostNov 8
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 Fort Bayard, 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 Fort Bayard, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 4median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 22only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 8median — 10% chance by Oct 23
Growing season216 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 12 and returns around November 19.

From the NOAA station Ft Bayard, NM — 9 miles away, elevation 6,099 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 88036

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 14
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 13 – Sep 27
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 25 – Nov 29
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 4) and first fall frost (Nov 8) 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 88036 came on Feb 9 — 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 23).

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 Fort Bayard, NM.

Soil in Fort Bayard, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 88036 is Ruidoso — clay loam, well drained.

TextureClay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.5slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Ruidoso-Muzzler association, 5 to 15 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 88036; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Fort Bayard, NM

Summer high90 °Faverage high, June
Winter low30 °Faverage low, December
Hot days33days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights92nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,243base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 19 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 59 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation18.1 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 56 °F, low 32 °F 56°32° JanFebruary: average high 59 °F, low 34 °F 59°34° FebMarch: average high 66 °F, low 38 °F 66°38° MarApril: average high 73 °F, low 43 °F 73°43° AprMay: average high 80 °F, low 50 °F 80°50° MayJune: average high 90 °F, low 60 °F 90°60° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 64 °F 88°64° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 63 °F 87°63° AugSeptember: average high 83 °F, low 58 °F 83°58° SepOctober: average high 74 °F, low 47 °F 74°47° OctNovember: average high 64 °F, low 37 °F 64°37° NovDecember: average high 55 °F, low 30 °F 55°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 1.07 in precipitation 1.1 JanFebruary: 1.06 in precipitation 1.1 FebMarch: 0.53 in precipitation 0.5 MarApril: 0.29 in precipitation 0.3 AprMay: 0.64 in precipitation 0.6 MayJune: 0.99 in precipitation 1.0 JunJuly: 3.91 in precipitation 3.9 JulAugust: 3.24 in precipitation 3.2 AugSeptember: 2.69 in precipitation 2.7 SepOctober: 1.39 in precipitation 1.4 OctNovember: 1.10 in precipitation 1.1 NovDecember: 1.24 in precipitation 1.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ft Bayard, NM (9 mi away); precipitation: Bayard 8.9 Ene, NM (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

880237b
Bayard, NM · 5 mi
880627b
Silver City, NM · 8 mi
880417b
Hanover, NM · 8 mi
880267b
Santa Clara, NM · 9 mi
880227b
Arenas Valley, NM · 11 mi
880348a
Faywood, NM · 12 mi
880438a
Hurley, NM · 12 mi
880537b
Pinos Altos, NM · 15 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 88036

What planting zone is ZIP code 88036?

ZIP code 88036 (Fort Bayard, 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 Fort Bayard, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 88036 is April 4; after April 22 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ft Bayard station.

When is the first frost in Fort Bayard, NM?

The median first fall frost near 88036 is November 8, giving a median frost-free growing season of 216 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 88036?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 7 – Feb 21 and set transplants outside around Apr 11 – Apr 25, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 88036 get?

About 18.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bayard 8.9 Ene station).

How hot do summers get in Fort Bayard, NM?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in June, with about 33 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 88036 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Ruidoso at the center of ZIP 88036: clay loam, well drained, pH about 7.5 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Fort Bayard, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 88036 came on Feb 9 in 2026, 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 23), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Fort Bayard, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 88036 is 14 h 19 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 88036 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 88036 in zone 8a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.