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

Planting zone for 88231 — Eunice, NM

ZIP code 88231 (Eunice, Lea County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 4 and the first fall frost November 6.

Where ZIP 88231 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 4
First frostNov 6
2012 zone7b

Was 7b 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 8a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Eunice, 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 Eunice, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 4median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 6median — 10% chance by Oct 24
Growing season217 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 17 and returns around November 16.

From the NOAA station Ochoa, NM — 20 miles away, elevation 3,399 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 88231

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 14
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 11 – Sep 25
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 23 – Nov 27
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 4) and first fall frost (Nov 6) 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 88231 came on Feb 10 — 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 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 Eunice, NM.

Soil in Eunice, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 88231 is Pyote — fine sand, well drained.

TextureFine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Pyote and Maljamar fine sands.

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 88231; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Eunice, NM

Summer high95 °Faverage high, June
Winter low27 °Faverage low, January
Hot days112days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights79nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,341base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 17 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
Precipitation15.7 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 27 °F 58°27° JanFebruary: average high 62 °F, low 31 °F 62°31° FebMarch: average high 70 °F, low 38 °F 70°38° MarApril: average high 79 °F, low 45 °F 79°45° AprMay: average high 87 °F, low 55 °F 87°55° MayJune: average high 95 °F, low 64 °F 95°64° JunJuly: average high 94 °F, low 67 °F 94°67° JulAugust: average high 94 °F, low 66 °F 94°66° AugSeptember: average high 87 °F, low 59 °F 87°59° SepOctober: average high 79 °F, low 48 °F 79°48° OctNovember: average high 67 °F, low 37 °F 67°37° NovDecember: average high 58 °F, low 29 °F 58°29° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 0.53 in precipitation 0.5 JanFebruary: 0.51 in precipitation 0.5 FebMarch: 0.81 in precipitation 0.8 MarApril: 0.82 in precipitation 0.8 AprMay: 1.36 in precipitation 1.4 MayJune: 1.55 in precipitation 1.6 JunJuly: 1.94 in precipitation 1.9 JulAugust: 2.64 in precipitation 2.6 AugSeptember: 2.84 in precipitation 2.8 SepOctober: 1.27 in precipitation 1.3 OctNovember: 0.65 in precipitation 0.7 NovDecember: 0.74 in precipitation 0.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ochoa, NM (20 mi away); precipitation: Monument 1.2 W, NM (14 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

882658a
Monument, NM · 12 mi
882528a
Jal, NM · 20 mi
882408a
Hobbs, NM · 20 mi
882418a
Hobbs, NM · 22 mi
882448a
Hobbs, NM · 24 mi
882428a
Hobbs, NM · 27 mi
882607b
Lovington, NM · 40 mi
882568a
Loving, NM · 40 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 88231

What planting zone is ZIP code 88231?

ZIP code 88231 (Eunice, 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 Eunice, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 88231 is April 4; after April 23 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ochoa station.

When is the first frost in Eunice, NM?

The median first fall frost near 88231 is November 6, giving a median frost-free growing season of 217 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 88231?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 7 – Feb 21 and set transplants outside around Apr 11 – Apr 25, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 88231 get?

About 15.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Monument 1.2 W station).

How hot do summers get in Eunice, NM?

The average high peaks at 95 °F in June, with about 112 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 88231 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Pyote at the center of ZIP 88231: fine sand, well drained, pH about 7.2 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Eunice, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 88231 came on Feb 10 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 Eunice, NM?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 88231 is 14 h 17 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

Did the zone for 88231 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 88231 in zone 7b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.