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

Planting zone for 88038 — Gila, NM

ZIP code 88038 (Gila, Grant County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 26 and the first fall frost October 5.

Where ZIP 88038 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 26
First frostOct 5
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 Gila, 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 Gila, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 8only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 5median — 10% chance by Sep 23
Growing season129 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 8 and returns around October 14.

From the NOAA station Gila Hot Springs, NM — 10 miles away, elevation 5,637 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 88038

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 14 – May 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 5 – May 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 5 – May 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 2 – Jun 16
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 9 – Jun 23
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 2 – Jun 16
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 2 – Jun 16
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 2 – Jun 16
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 10 – Aug 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 21 – Oct 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 26) and first fall frost (Oct 5) 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 88038 came on Feb 9 — 21 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 2).

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 Gila, NM.

Soil in Gila, NM

The center of ZIP 88038 is mapped as No Digital Data Available: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 88038; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Gila, NM

Summer high90 °Faverage high, June
Winter low17 °Faverage low, January
Hot days40days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights182nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,749base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 21 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
Precipitation15.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall6 inper year; 2 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 57 °F, low 17 °F 57°17° JanFebruary: average high 60 °F, low 22 °F 60°22° FebMarch: average high 67 °F, low 26 °F 67°26° MarApril: average high 73 °F, low 30 °F 73°30° AprMay: average high 81 °F, low 36 °F 81°36° MayJune: average high 90 °F, low 44 °F 90°44° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 53 °F 89°53° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 53 °F 87°53° AugSeptember: average high 83 °F, low 45 °F 83°45° SepOctober: average high 75 °F, low 33 °F 75°33° OctNovember: average high 65 °F, low 24 °F 65°24° NovDecember: average high 56 °F, low 18 °F 56°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 1.01 in precipitation, 3 in snowfall 1.0❄3 JanFebruary: 0.95 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 0.9❄1 FebMarch: 0.69 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 0.7 MarApril: 0.41 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 0.4 AprMay: 0.52 in precipitation 0.5 MayJune: 0.66 in precipitation 0.7 JunJuly: 2.67 in precipitation 2.7 JulAugust: 3.07 in precipitation 3.1 AugSeptember: 1.81 in precipitation 1.8 SepOctober: 1.18 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 1.2 OctNovember: 1.03 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 1.0 NovDecember: 1.17 in precipitation, 1.3 in snowfall 1.2❄1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Gila Hot Springs, NM (10 mi away); precipitation: Gila Hot Springs, NM (10 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

880397a
Glenwood, NM · 17 mi
880537b
Pinos Altos, NM · 18 mi
880497b
Mimbres, NM · 18 mi
880287b
Cliff, NM · 21 mi
880257b
Buckhorn, NM · 21 mi
880227b
Arenas Valley, NM · 24 mi
880267b
Santa Clara, NM · 28 mi
880657b
Tyrone, NM · 29 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 88038

What planting zone is ZIP code 88038?

ZIP code 88038 (Gila, 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 Gila, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 88038 is May 26; after June 8 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gila Hot Springs station.

When is the first frost in Gila, NM?

The median first fall frost near 88038 is October 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 129 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 88038?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 31 – Apr 14 and set transplants outside around Jun 2 – Jun 16, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 88038 get?

About 15.2 inches of precipitation a year and 6 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gila Hot Springs station).

How hot do summers get in Gila, NM?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in June, with about 40 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Gila, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 88038 came on Feb 9 in 2026, 21 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 2), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Gila, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 88038 is 14 h 21 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.