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

Planting zone for 88042 — Hillsboro, NM

ZIP code 88042 (Hillsboro, Sierra County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 23 and the first fall frost October 23.

Where ZIP 88042 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 23
First frostOct 23
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 Hillsboro, 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 Hillsboro, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 23median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 7only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 23median — 10% chance by Oct 13
Growing season183 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 7 and returns around November 2.

From the NOAA station Hillsboro, NM — 7 miles away, elevation 5,266 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 88042

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Apr 2
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 30 – May 14
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 7 – May 21
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 28 – Sep 11
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 9 – Nov 13
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 23) and first fall frost (Oct 23) 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 88042 came on Feb 6 — 13 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 19).

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 Hillsboro, NM.

Soil in Hillsboro, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 88042 is Scholle — very gravelly loam, well drained.

TextureVery gravelly loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.6slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.9%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Scholle-Ildefonso association, moderately rolling.

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 88042; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Hillsboro, NM

Summer high93 °Faverage high, June
Winter low25 °Faverage low, January
Hot days75days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights108nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,041base 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
Precipitation12.8 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 55 °F, low 25 °F 55°25° JanFebruary: average high 60 °F, low 28 °F 60°28° FebMarch: average high 67 °F, low 34 °F 67°34° MarApril: average high 75 °F, low 40 °F 75°40° AprMay: average high 83 °F, low 48 °F 83°48° MayJune: average high 93 °F, low 56 °F 93°56° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 62 °F 92°62° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 60 °F 89°60° AugSeptember: average high 84 °F, low 53 °F 84°53° SepOctober: average high 75 °F, low 42 °F 75°42° OctNovember: average high 63 °F, low 31 °F 63°31° NovDecember: average high 54 °F, low 25 °F 54°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 0.59 in precipitation 0.6 JanFebruary: 0.41 in precipitation 0.4 FebMarch: 0.38 in precipitation 0.4 MarApril: 0.38 in precipitation 0.4 AprMay: 0.56 in precipitation 0.6 MayJune: 0.80 in precipitation 0.8 JunJuly: 2.74 in precipitation 2.7 JulAugust: 2.20 in precipitation 2.2 AugSeptember: 2.01 in precipitation 2.0 SepOctober: 1.12 in precipitation 1.1 OctNovember: 0.78 in precipitation 0.8 NovDecember: 0.88 in precipitation 0.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Hillsboro, NM (7 mi away); precipitation: Hillsboro 0.3 Wsw, NM (7 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.

879308a
Arrey, NM · 12 mi
879318a
Caballo, NM · 15 mi
879338a
Derry, NM · 17 mi
879368a
Garfield, NM · 18 mi
880417b
Hanover, NM · 18 mi
879428a
Williamsburg, NM · 21 mi
879418a
Salem, NM · 22 mi
880367b
Fort Bayard, NM · 26 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 88042

What planting zone is ZIP code 88042?

ZIP code 88042 (Hillsboro, 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 Hillsboro, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 88042 is April 23; after May 7 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hillsboro station.

When is the first frost in Hillsboro, NM?

The median first fall frost near 88042 is October 23, giving a median frost-free growing season of 183 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 88042?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 26 – Mar 12 and set transplants outside around Apr 30 – May 14, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 88042 get?

About 12.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hillsboro 0.3 Wsw station).

How hot do summers get in Hillsboro, NM?

The average high peaks at 93 °F in June, with about 75 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 88042 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Scholle at the center of ZIP 88042: very gravelly loam, well drained, pH about 7.6 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Hillsboro, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 88042 came on Feb 6 in 2026, 13 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 19), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Hillsboro, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 88042 is 14 h 19 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.