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

Planting zone for 88045 — Lordsburg, NM

ZIP code 88045 (Lordsburg, Hidalgo County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 27 and the first fall frost October 25.

Where ZIP 88045 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 27
First frostOct 25
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 Lordsburg, 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 Lordsburg, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 27median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 10only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 25median — 10% chance by Oct 13
Growing season179 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 15 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Lordsburg 4 Se, NM — 3 miles away, elevation 4,246 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 88045

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 16 – Apr 6
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
TomatoesTransplant · May 4 – May 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 11 – May 25
BeansSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 4 – May 18
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 30 – Sep 13
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 11 – Nov 15
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 27) and first fall frost (Oct 25) 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 88045 came on Feb 7 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 9).

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 Lordsburg, NM.

Soil in Lordsburg, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 88045 is Tres Hermanos — gravelly clay loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly 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 matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Tres Hermanos gravelly 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 88045; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lordsburg, NM

Summer high100 °Faverage high, June
Winter low24 °Faverage low, January
Hot days134days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights122nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,921base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 16 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 01 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation11.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 61 °F, low 24 °F 61°24° JanFebruary: average high 66 °F, low 27 °F 66°27° FebMarch: average high 73 °F, low 32 °F 73°32° MarApril: average high 82 °F, low 37 °F 82°37° AprMay: average high 91 °F, low 47 °F 91°47° MayJune: average high 100 °F, low 57 °F 100°57° JunJuly: average high 99 °F, low 64 °F 99°64° JulAugust: average high 96 °F, low 62 °F 96°62° AugSeptember: average high 91 °F, low 55 °F 91°55° SepOctober: average high 82 °F, low 42 °F 82°42° OctNovember: average high 70 °F, low 30 °F 70°30° NovDecember: average high 59 °F, low 25 °F 59°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 0.88 in precipitation 0.9 JanFebruary: 0.79 in precipitation 0.8 FebMarch: 0.60 in precipitation 0.6 MarApril: 0.25 in precipitation 0.3 AprMay: 0.25 in precipitation 0.3 MayJune: 0.34 in precipitation 0.3 JunJuly: 2.12 in precipitation 2.1 JulAugust: 2.17 in precipitation 2.2 AugSeptember: 1.21 in precipitation 1.2 SepOctober: 0.73 in precipitation 0.7 OctNovember: 0.79 in precipitation 0.8 NovDecember: 1.19 in precipitation 1.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lordsburg 4 Se, NM (3 mi away); precipitation: Lordsburg 4 Se, NM (3 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.

880617b
Silver City, NM · 27 mi
880557b
Redrock, NM · 28 mi
880098a
Playas, NM · 30 mi
856328a
San Simon, AZ · 34 mi
880657b
Tyrone, NM · 35 mi
855348a
Duncan, AZ · 38 mi
880568a
Rodeo, NM · 38 mi
880208a
Animas, NM · 39 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 88045

What planting zone is ZIP code 88045?

ZIP code 88045 (Lordsburg, 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 Lordsburg, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 88045 is April 27; after May 10 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lordsburg 4 Se station.

When is the first frost in Lordsburg, NM?

The median first fall frost near 88045 is October 25, giving a median frost-free growing season of 179 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 88045?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 2 – Mar 16 and set transplants outside around May 4 – May 18, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 88045 get?

About 11.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lordsburg 4 Se station).

How hot do summers get in Lordsburg, NM?

The average high peaks at 100 °F in June, with about 134 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 88045 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Tres Hermanos at the center of ZIP 88045: gravelly clay loam, well drained, pH about 8.2 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Lordsburg, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 88045 came on Feb 7 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 9), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Lordsburg, NM?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 88045 is 14 h 16 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.