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

Planting zone for 88063 — Sunland Park, NM

ZIP code 88063 (Sunland Park, Doña Ana County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 23 and the first fall frost November 11.

Where ZIP 88063 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
Coldest night−9.4 to −6.7 °C
Last frostMar 23
First frostNov 11
2012 zone8a

Was 8a on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 8b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Sunland Park, 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 Sunland Park, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 23median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 11median — 10% chance by Oct 29
Growing season231 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 5 and returns around November 19.

From the NOAA station Santa Teresa Airport, NM — 10 miles away, elevation 4,108 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 88063

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 9 – Mar 2
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 12 – Jan 26
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 2 – Mar 16
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 26 – Feb 9
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 12 – Jan 26
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 6 – Apr 20
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 16 – Sep 30
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 28 – Dec 2
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 23) and first fall frost (Nov 11) 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 88063 came on Feb 4 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 4).

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 8b in New Mexico

551 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New Mexico, and rated by the USDA to survive 15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8b. 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 109

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 171

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 Sunland Park, NM.

Soil in Sunland Park, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 88063 is Agua variant — fine sandy loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH8.5alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter0.85%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Agua variant and Belen variant soils.

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 88063; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Sunland Park, NM

Summer high96 °Faverage high, June
Winter low30 °Faverage low, January
Hot days107days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights65nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,454base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 14 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 04 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation10.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 58 °F, low 30 °F 58°30° JanFebruary: average high 63 °F, low 33 °F 63°33° FebMarch: average high 71 °F, low 39 °F 71°39° MarApril: average high 79 °F, low 47 °F 79°47° AprMay: average high 87 °F, low 56 °F 87°56° MayJune: average high 96 °F, low 65 °F 96°65° JunJuly: average high 95 °F, low 69 °F 95°69° JulAugust: average high 93 °F, low 68 °F 93°68° AugSeptember: average high 88 °F, low 62 °F 88°62° SepOctober: average high 79 °F, low 50 °F 79°50° OctNovember: average high 66 °F, low 37 °F 66°37° NovDecember: average high 57 °F, low 30 °F 57°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″January: 0.61 in precipitation 0.6 JanFebruary: 0.49 in precipitation 0.5 FebMarch: 0.48 in precipitation 0.5 MarApril: 0.29 in precipitation 0.3 AprMay: 0.62 in precipitation 0.6 MayJune: 0.53 in precipitation 0.5 JunJuly: 1.73 in precipitation 1.7 JulAugust: 1.69 in precipitation 1.7 AugSeptember: 1.98 in precipitation 2.0 SepOctober: 0.80 in precipitation 0.8 OctNovember: 0.45 in precipitation 0.5 NovDecember: 0.75 in precipitation 0.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Santa Teresa Airport, NM (10 mi away); precipitation: Fmsp Mckelligon, TX (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 8b.

799228b
El Paso, TX · <1 mi
799028b
El Paso, TX · 3 mi
799128b
El Paso, TX · 4 mi
799418b
El Paso, TX · 5 mi
799438b
El Paso, TX · 5 mi
799448b
El Paso, TX · 5 mi
799458b
El Paso, TX · 5 mi
799468b
El Paso, TX · 5 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 88063

What planting zone is ZIP code 88063?

ZIP code 88063 (Sunland Park, NM) is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 15 to 20 °F (−9.4 to −6.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Sunland Park, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 88063 is March 23; after April 9 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Santa Teresa Airport station.

When is the first frost in Sunland Park, NM?

The median first fall frost near 88063 is November 11, giving a median frost-free growing season of 231 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 88063?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 26 – Feb 9 and set transplants outside around Mar 30 – Apr 13, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 88063 get?

About 10.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Fmsp Mckelligon station).

How hot do summers get in Sunland Park, NM?

The average high peaks at 96 °F in June, with about 107 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 88063 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Agua variant at the center of ZIP 88063: fine sandy loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 8.5 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Sunland Park, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 88063 came on Feb 4 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 4), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Sunland Park, NM?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 88063 is 14 h 14 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

Did the zone for 88063 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 88063 in zone 8a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.