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

Planting zone for 88051 — Mule Creek, NM

ZIP code 88051 (Mule Creek, Grant County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 24 and the first fall frost October 25.

Where ZIP 88051 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 frostApr 24
First frostOct 25
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 Mule Creek, 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 Mule Creek, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 24median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 8only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 25median — 10% chance by Oct 11
Growing season183 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Duncan, AZ — 21 miles away, elevation 3,662 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 88051

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Apr 3
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
TomatoesTransplant · May 1 – May 15
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 8 – May 22
BeansSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
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 24) 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 88051 came on Feb 9 — 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 25).

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 Mule Creek, NM.

Soil in Mule Creek, NM

The center of ZIP 88051 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 88051; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Mule Creek, NM

Summer high98 °Faverage high, June
Winter low25 °Faverage low, January
Hot days130days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights113nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,911base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 20 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
Precipitation14.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall2 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 60 °F, low 25 °F 60°25° JanFebruary: average high 65 °F, low 29 °F 65°29° FebMarch: average high 73 °F, low 33 °F 73°33° MarApril: average high 81 °F, low 39 °F 81°39° AprMay: average high 89 °F, low 47 °F 89°47° MayJune: average high 98 °F, low 57 °F 98°57° JunJuly: average high 98 °F, low 66 °F 98°66° JulAugust: average high 96 °F, low 65 °F 96°65° AugSeptember: average high 91 °F, low 56 °F 91°56° SepOctober: average high 81 °F, low 43 °F 81°43° OctNovember: average high 69 °F, low 31 °F 69°31° NovDecember: average high 59 °F, low 25 °F 59°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 1.19 in precipitation, 1.3 in snowfall 1.2❄1 JanFebruary: 1.04 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 1.0 FebMarch: 0.72 in precipitation 0.7 MarApril: 0.23 in precipitation 0.2 AprMay: 0.36 in precipitation 0.4 MayJune: 0.50 in precipitation 0.5 JunJuly: 2.77 in precipitation 2.8 JulAugust: 2.36 in precipitation 2.4 AugSeptember: 2.00 in precipitation 2.0 SepOctober: 1.07 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.1 OctNovember: 0.84 in precipitation 0.8 NovDecember: 1.29 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 1.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Duncan, AZ (21 mi away); precipitation: Buckhorn, NM (12 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

880257b
Buckhorn, NM · 14 mi
880287b
Cliff, NM · 15 mi
880557b
Redrock, NM · 21 mi
855348a
Duncan, AZ · 23 mi
855408b
Morenci, AZ · 27 mi
880397a
Glenwood, NM · 28 mi
855338a
Clifton, AZ · 33 mi
880387b
Gila, NM · 34 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 88051

What planting zone is ZIP code 88051?

ZIP code 88051 (Mule Creek, 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 Mule Creek, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 88051 is April 24; after May 8 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Duncan station.

When is the first frost in Mule Creek, NM?

The median first fall frost near 88051 is October 25, giving a median frost-free growing season of 183 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 88051?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 27 – Mar 13 and set transplants outside around May 1 – May 15, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 88051 get?

About 14.4 inches of precipitation a year and 2 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Buckhorn station).

How hot do summers get in Mule Creek, NM?

The average high peaks at 98 °F in June, with about 130 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Mule Creek, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 88051 came on Feb 9 in 2026, 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 25), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Mule Creek, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 88051 is 14 h 20 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.