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

Planting zone for 88268 — Whites City, NM

ZIP code 88268 (Whites City, Eddy County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 2 and the first fall frost November 11.

Where ZIP 88268 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 2
First frostNov 11
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 Whites City, 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 Whites City, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 2median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 11median — 10% chance by Oct 22
Growing season223 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 16 and returns around November 22.

From the NOAA station Carlsbad Caverns, NM — 4 miles away, elevation 4,436 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 88268

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 12
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 22 – Feb 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 22 – Feb 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
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 (Apr 2) 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 88268 came on Feb 10 — 3 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 7).

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 Whites City, NM.

Soil in Whites City, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 88268 is Upton — gravelly loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.6slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Upton gravelly loam, 0 to 9 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 88268; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Whites City, NM

Summer high92 °Faverage high, June
Winter low34 °Faverage low, January
Hot days83days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights43nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,400base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 16 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 02 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation13.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall4 inper year; 2 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 56 °F, low 34 °F 56°34° JanFebruary: average high 61 °F, low 37 °F 61°37° FebMarch: average high 68 °F, low 43 °F 68°43° MarApril: average high 76 °F, low 49 °F 76°49° AprMay: average high 84 °F, low 58 °F 84°58° MayJune: average high 92 °F, low 66 °F 92°66° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 68 °F 91°68° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 66 °F 90°66° AugSeptember: average high 83 °F, low 60 °F 83°60° SepOctober: average high 75 °F, low 52 °F 75°52° OctNovember: average high 65 °F, low 42 °F 65°42° NovDecember: average high 57 °F, low 35 °F 57°35° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 0.32 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 0.3 JanFebruary: 0.44 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 0.4❄1 FebMarch: 0.57 in precipitation 0.6 MarApril: 0.50 in precipitation 0.5 AprMay: 1.25 in precipitation 1.3 MayJune: 1.16 in precipitation 1.2 JunJuly: 2.23 in precipitation 2.2 JulAugust: 2.00 in precipitation 2.0 AugSeptember: 2.93 in precipitation 2.9 SepOctober: 1.16 in precipitation 1.2 OctNovember: 0.68 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 0.7 NovDecember: 0.55 in precipitation, 2 in snowfall 0.6❄2 Dec

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

882208a
Carlsbad, NM · 10 mi
882218a
Carlsbad, NM · 12 mi
882638a
Malaga, NM · 17 mi
882568a
Loving, NM · 29 mi
882548a
Lakewood, NM · 31 mi
797708a
Orla, TX · 35 mi
882117b
Artesia, NM · 40 mi
882108a
Artesia, NM · 42 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 88268

What planting zone is ZIP code 88268?

ZIP code 88268 (Whites City, 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 Whites City, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 88268 is April 2; after April 20 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Carlsbad Caverns station.

When is the first frost in Whites City, NM?

The median first fall frost near 88268 is November 11, giving a median frost-free growing season of 223 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 88268?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 5 – Feb 19 and set transplants outside around Apr 9 – Apr 23, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 88268 get?

About 13.8 inches of precipitation a year and 4 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Carlsbad Caverns station).

How hot do summers get in Whites City, NM?

The average high peaks at 92 °F in June, with about 83 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 88268 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Upton at the center of ZIP 88268: gravelly loam, well drained, pH about 7.6 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Whites City, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 88268 came on Feb 10 in 2026, 3 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Whites City, NM?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 88268 is 14 h 16 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

Did the zone for 88268 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 88268 in zone 7b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.