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

Planting zone for 88346 — Ruidoso Downs, NM

ZIP code 88346 (Ruidoso Downs, Lincoln County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 11 and the first fall frost October 5.

Where ZIP 88346 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostMay 11
First frostOct 5
2012 zone7a

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 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Ruidoso Downs, 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 Ruidoso Downs, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 11median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 22only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 5median — 10% chance by Sep 24
Growing season147 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 30 and returns around October 17.

From the NOAA station Ruidoso, NM — 7 miles away, elevation 6,929 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 88346

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 20
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 20 – May 4
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
TomatoesTransplant · May 18 – Jun 1
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 25 – Jun 8
BeansSow outdoors · May 18 – Jun 1
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 18 – Jun 1
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 18 – Jun 1
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 10 – Aug 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 21 – Oct 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 11) and first fall frost (Oct 5) 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 88346 came on Feb 26 — 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 8).

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 7a in New Mexico

532 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New Mexico, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. 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 163

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 Ruidoso Downs, NM.

Soil in Ruidoso Downs, NM

The center of ZIP 88346 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 88346; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Ruidoso Downs, NM

Summer high82 °Faverage high, June
Winter low21 °Faverage low, January
Hot days6days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights156nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,048base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 22 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 56 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation22 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall26 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 49 °F, low 21 °F 49°21° JanFebruary: average high 51 °F, low 23 °F 51°23° FebMarch: average high 58 °F, low 27 °F 58°27° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 33 °F 65°33° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 40 °F 73°40° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 47 °F 82°47° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 51 °F 81°51° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 50 °F 79°50° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 44 °F 75°44° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 35 °F 67°35° OctNovember: average high 56 °F, low 26 °F 56°26° NovDecember: average high 48 °F, low 22 °F 48°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.11 in precipitation, 7.9 in snowfall 1.1❄8 JanFebruary: 1.03 in precipitation, 5.5 in snowfall 1.0❄6 FebMarch: 0.88 in precipitation, 2.2 in snowfall 0.9❄2 MarApril: 0.67 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 0.7❄1 AprMay: 1.16 in precipitation 1.2 MayJune: 2.05 in precipitation 2.0 JunJuly: 4.31 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 4.23 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 2.49 in precipitation 2.5 SepOctober: 1.69 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 1.7❄1 OctNovember: 0.84 in precipitation, 1.8 in snowfall 0.8❄2 NovDecember: 1.54 in precipitation, 7.2 in snowfall 1.5❄7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ruidoso, NM (7 mi away); precipitation: Ruidoso, NM (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

883247b
Glencoe, NM · 5 mi
883557a
Ruidoso, NM · 7 mi
883457a
Ruidoso, NM · 8 mi
883127a
Alto, NM · 8 mi
883487b
San Patricio, NM · 9 mi
883237a
Fort Stanton, NM · 10 mi
883407a
Mescalero, NM · 12 mi
883367b
Hondo, NM · 15 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 88346

What planting zone is ZIP code 88346?

ZIP code 88346 (Ruidoso Downs, NM) is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 0 to 5 °F (−17.8 to −15 °C).

When is the last frost in Ruidoso Downs, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 88346 is May 11; after May 22 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ruidoso station.

When is the first frost in Ruidoso Downs, NM?

The median first fall frost near 88346 is October 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 147 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 88346?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 16 – Mar 30 and set transplants outside around May 18 – Jun 1, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 88346 get?

About 22 inches of precipitation a year and 26 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ruidoso station).

How hot do summers get in Ruidoso Downs, NM?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in June, with about 6 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Ruidoso Downs, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 88346 came on Feb 26 in 2026, 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 8), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Ruidoso Downs, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 88346 is 14 h 22 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.