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

Planting zone for 88325 — High Rolls Mountain Park, NM

ZIP code 88325 (High Rolls Mountain Park, Otero County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost October 21.

Where ZIP 88325 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 30
First frostOct 21
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 High Rolls Mountain 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 High Rolls Mountain Park, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 15only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 21median — 10% chance by Oct 9
Growing season173 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 20 and returns around October 30.

From the NOAA station Mtn Park, NM — 7 miles away, elevation 6,805 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 88325

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesTransplant · May 7 – May 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 14 – May 28
BeansSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 26 – Sep 9
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 7 – Nov 11
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 30) and first fall frost (Oct 21) 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 88325 came on Feb 25 — 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 13).

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 High Rolls Mountain Park, NM.

Soil in High Rolls Mountain Park, NM

The center of ZIP 88325 is mapped as No Digital Data Available: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 88325; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in High Rolls Mountain Park, NM

Summer high82 °Faverage high, June
Winter low26 °Faverage low, January
Hot days5days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights106nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,657base 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
Precipitation11.9 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 48 °F, low 26 °F 48°26° JanFebruary: average high 52 °F, low 28 °F 52°28° FebMarch: average high 59 °F, low 33 °F 59°33° MarApril: average high 66 °F, low 38 °F 66°38° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 45 °F 73°45° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 54 °F 82°54° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 57 °F 81°57° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 56 °F 79°56° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 51 °F 74°51° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 42 °F 66°42° OctNovember: average high 56 °F, low 33 °F 56°33° NovDecember: average high 48 °F, low 26 °F 48°26° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 0.91 in precipitation 0.9 JanFebruary: 0.48 in precipitation 0.5 FebMarch: 0.38 in precipitation 0.4 MarApril: 0.43 in precipitation 0.4 AprMay: 0.43 in precipitation 0.4 MayJune: 0.79 in precipitation 0.8 JunJuly: 2.12 in precipitation 2.1 JulAugust: 1.96 in precipitation 2.0 AugSeptember: 1.94 in precipitation 1.9 SepOctober: 1.02 in precipitation 1.0 OctNovember: 0.66 in precipitation 0.7 NovDecember: 0.74 in precipitation 0.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Mtn Park, NM (7 mi away); precipitation: Alamogordo 2.4 Ne, NM (6 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.

883497a
Sunspot, NM · 5 mi
883177a
Cloudcroft, NM · 8 mi
883118a
Alamogordo, NM · 9 mi
883377b
La Luz, NM · 10 mi
883477a
Sacramento, NM · 12 mi
883108a
Alamogordo, NM · 14 mi
883308a
Holloman Air Force Base, NM · 14 mi
883147b
Bent, NM · 18 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 88325

What planting zone is ZIP code 88325?

ZIP code 88325 (High Rolls Mountain Park, 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 High Rolls Mountain Park, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 88325 is April 30; after May 15 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mtn Park station.

When is the first frost in High Rolls Mountain Park, NM?

The median first fall frost near 88325 is October 21, giving a median frost-free growing season of 173 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 88325?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 5 – Mar 19 and set transplants outside around May 7 – May 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 88325 get?

About 11.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Alamogordo 2.4 Ne station).

How hot do summers get in High Rolls Mountain Park, NM?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in June, with about 5 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in High Rolls Mountain Park, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 88325 came on Feb 25 in 2026, 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 13), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in High Rolls Mountain Park, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 88325 is 14 h 19 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 88325 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 88325 in zone 7b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.