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

Planting zone for 88211 — Artesia, NM

ZIP code 88211 (Artesia, Eddy County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 11 and the first fall frost October 29.

Where ZIP 88211 is

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 11
First frostOct 29
2012 zone7a

Was 7a 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 7b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Artesia, 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 Artesia, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 11median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 26only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 29median — 10% chance by Oct 16
Growing season198 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 29 and returns around November 5.

From the NOAA station Artesia 6s, NM — 3 miles away, elevation 3,366 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 88211

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 3 – Sep 17
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 15 – Nov 19
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 11) and first fall frost (Oct 29) 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 88211 came on Feb 13 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 11).

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 Artesia, NM.

Soil in Artesia, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 88211 is Arno — silty clay loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH8.2alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Arno-Harkey complex, saline, 0 to 1 percent slopes.

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 88211; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Artesia, NM

Summer high95 °Faverage high, June
Winter low23 °Faverage low, January
Hot days109days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights111nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,922base 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
Precipitation12.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall4 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°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 58 °F, low 23 °F 58°23° JanFebruary: average high 63 °F, low 27 °F 63°27° FebMarch: average high 71 °F, low 35 °F 71°35° MarApril: average high 79 °F, low 42 °F 79°42° AprMay: average high 87 °F, low 52 °F 87°52° MayJune: average high 95 °F, low 62 °F 95°62° JunJuly: average high 95 °F, low 66 °F 95°66° JulAugust: average high 94 °F, low 64 °F 94°64° AugSeptember: average high 87 °F, low 57 °F 87°57° SepOctober: average high 78 °F, low 44 °F 78°44° OctNovember: average high 66 °F, low 32 °F 66°32° NovDecember: average high 57 °F, low 24 °F 57°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″January: 0.48 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 0.5❄1 JanFebruary: 0.38 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 0.4 FebMarch: 0.44 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 0.4 MarApril: 0.51 in precipitation 0.5 AprMay: 1.18 in precipitation 1.2 MayJune: 1.33 in precipitation 1.3 JunJuly: 1.67 in precipitation 1.7 JulAugust: 1.63 in precipitation 1.6 AugSeptember: 1.89 in precipitation 1.9 SepOctober: 1.23 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.2 OctNovember: 0.81 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 0.8❄1 NovDecember: 0.55 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 0.6❄1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Artesia 6s, NM (3 mi away); precipitation: Artesia 6s, NM (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

882108a
Artesia, NM · 6 mi
882548a
Lakewood, NM · 10 mi
882558a
Loco Hills, NM · 20 mi
882537b
Lake Arthur, NM · 20 mi
882327b
Hagerman, NM · 24 mi
882218a
Carlsbad, NM · 29 mi
882208a
Carlsbad, NM · 31 mi
882307b
Dexter, NM · 32 mi

All 2 ZIP codes in Artesia → · New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 88211

What planting zone is ZIP code 88211?

ZIP code 88211 (Artesia, 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 Artesia, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 88211 is April 11; after April 26 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Artesia 6s station.

When is the first frost in Artesia, NM?

The median first fall frost near 88211 is October 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 198 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 88211?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 14 – Feb 28 and set transplants outside around Apr 18 – May 2, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 88211 get?

About 12.1 inches of precipitation a year and 4 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Artesia 6s station).

How hot do summers get in Artesia, NM?

The average high peaks at 95 °F in June, with about 109 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 88211 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Arno at the center of ZIP 88211: silty clay loam, moderately well drained, pH about 8.2 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Artesia, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 88211 came on Feb 13 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 11), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Artesia, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 88211 is 14 h 19 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 88211 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 88211 in zone 7a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.