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

Planting zone for 88310 — Alamogordo, NM

ZIP code 88310 (Alamogordo, Otero County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 22 and the first fall frost October 22.

Where ZIP 88310 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 22
First frostOct 22
2012 zone8a

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 8a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Alamogordo, 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 Alamogordo, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 22median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 22median — 10% chance by Oct 10
Growing season183 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 8 and returns around October 31.

From the NOAA station White Sands Natl Mon, NM — 9 miles away, elevation 4,006 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 88310

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Apr 1
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 29 – May 13
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 6 – May 20
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 27 – Sep 10
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 8 – Nov 12
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 22) and first fall frost (Oct 22) 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 88310 came on Feb 9 — 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 Alamogordo, NM.

Soil in Alamogordo, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 88310 is Flake — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.7%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Flake-Yesum association, 0 to 8 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 88310; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Alamogordo, NM

Summer high97 °Faverage high, June
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days119days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights123nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,904base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 18 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
Precipitation9.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall2 inper year; 1 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 57 °F, low 22 °F 57°22° JanFebruary: average high 63 °F, low 27 °F 63°27° FebMarch: average high 71 °F, low 33 °F 71°33° MarApril: average high 79 °F, low 41 °F 79°41° AprMay: average high 88 °F, low 50 °F 88°50° MayJune: average high 97 °F, low 60 °F 97°60° JunJuly: average high 97 °F, low 65 °F 97°65° JulAugust: average high 95 °F, low 64 °F 95°64° AugSeptember: average high 89 °F, low 56 °F 89°56° SepOctober: average high 79 °F, low 42 °F 79°42° OctNovember: average high 67 °F, low 29 °F 67°29° NovDecember: average high 57 °F, low 22 °F 57°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″January: 0.50 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 0.5❄1 JanFebruary: 0.38 in precipitation 0.4 FebMarch: 0.24 in precipitation 0.2 MarApril: 0.30 in precipitation 0.3 AprMay: 0.45 in precipitation 0.5 MayJune: 0.72 in precipitation 0.7 JunJuly: 1.64 in precipitation 1.6 JulAugust: 1.88 in precipitation 1.9 AugSeptember: 1.46 in precipitation 1.5 SepOctober: 1.05 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.1 OctNovember: 0.45 in precipitation 0.5 NovDecember: 0.74 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 0.7❄1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: White Sands Natl Mon, NM (9 mi away); precipitation: White Sands Natl Mon, NM (9 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.

883118a
Alamogordo, NM · 6 mi
883308a
Holloman Air Force Base, NM · 10 mi
883258a
High Rolls Mountain Park, NM · 14 mi
883497a
Sunspot, NM · 14 mi
883377b
La Luz, NM · 20 mi
883177a
Cloudcroft, NM · 20 mi
883477a
Sacramento, NM · 21 mi
883507b
Timberon, NM · 24 mi

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

Questions about 88310

What planting zone is ZIP code 88310?

ZIP code 88310 (Alamogordo, 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 Alamogordo, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 88310 is April 22; after May 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, White Sands Natl Mon station.

When is the first frost in Alamogordo, NM?

The median first fall frost near 88310 is October 22, giving a median frost-free growing season of 183 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 88310?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 25 – Mar 11 and set transplants outside around Apr 29 – May 13, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 88310 get?

About 9.8 inches of precipitation a year and 2 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, White Sands Natl Mon station).

How hot do summers get in Alamogordo, NM?

The average high peaks at 97 °F in June, with about 119 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 88310 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Flake at the center of ZIP 88310: loam, well drained, pH about 7.2 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Alamogordo, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 88310 came on Feb 9 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 Alamogordo, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 88310 is 14 h 18 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.