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

Planting zone for 88351 — Tinnie, NM

ZIP code 88351 (Tinnie, Lincoln County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 19 and the first fall frost October 25.

Where ZIP 88351 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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
Coldest night−15 to −12.2 °C
Last frostApr 19
First frostOct 25
2012 zone7a

Was 7a 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 7b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Tinnie, 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 Tinnie, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 19median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 2only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 25median — 10% chance by Oct 11
Growing season188 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 4 and returns around November 4.

From the NOAA station Picacho, NM — 9 miles away, elevation 4,990 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 88351

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 29
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 26 – May 10
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 3 – May 17
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 30 – Sep 13
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 11 – Nov 15
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 19) and first fall frost (Oct 25) 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 88351 came on Feb 14 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 18).

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 7b in New Mexico

535 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in New Mexico, and rated by the USDA to survive 5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7b. 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 166

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 Tinnie, NM.

Soil in Tinnie, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 88351 is Deama — very cobbly loam, well drained.

TextureVery cobbly loama good balance for most vegetables
pH8.2alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Deama-Rock outcrop association, very steep.

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 88351; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Tinnie, NM

Summer high90 °Faverage high, June
Winter low26 °Faverage low, December
Hot days57days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights107nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,059base 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
Precipitation18.5 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 58 °F, low 27 °F 58°27° JanFebruary: average high 61 °F, low 29 °F 61°29° FebMarch: average high 68 °F, low 34 °F 68°34° MarApril: average high 75 °F, low 41 °F 75°41° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 49 °F 82°49° MayJune: average high 90 °F, low 57 °F 90°57° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 61 °F 90°61° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 60 °F 88°60° AugSeptember: average high 84 °F, low 53 °F 84°53° SepOctober: average high 75 °F, low 42 °F 75°42° OctNovember: average high 65 °F, low 33 °F 65°33° NovDecember: average high 57 °F, low 26 °F 57°26° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.61 in precipitation 0.6 JanFebruary: 0.47 in precipitation 0.5 FebMarch: 0.60 in precipitation 0.6 MarApril: 0.69 in precipitation 0.7 AprMay: 1.55 in precipitation 1.6 MayJune: 1.82 in precipitation 1.8 JunJuly: 3.23 in precipitation 3.2 JulAugust: 4.57 in precipitation 4.6 AugSeptember: 2.16 in precipitation 2.2 SepOctober: 1.40 in precipitation 1.4 OctNovember: 0.76 in precipitation 0.8 NovDecember: 0.68 in precipitation 0.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Picacho, NM (9 mi away); precipitation: Arabela 2.5 Ssw, NM (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

883367b
Hondo, NM · 14 mi
883437b
Picacho, NM · 16 mi
883387a
Lincoln, NM · 17 mi
883487b
San Patricio, NM · 18 mi
883247b
Glencoe, NM · 25 mi
883167a
Capitan, NM · 26 mi
883467a
Ruidoso Downs, NM · 27 mi
883237a
Fort Stanton, NM · 27 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 88351

What planting zone is ZIP code 88351?

ZIP code 88351 (Tinnie, NM) is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 5 to 10 °F (−15 to −12.2 °C).

When is the last frost in Tinnie, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 88351 is April 19; after May 2 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Picacho station.

When is the first frost in Tinnie, NM?

The median first fall frost near 88351 is October 25, giving a median frost-free growing season of 188 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 88351?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 22 – Mar 8 and set transplants outside around Apr 26 – May 10, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 88351 get?

About 18.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Arabela 2.5 Ssw station).

How hot do summers get in Tinnie, NM?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in June, with about 57 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 88351 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Deama at the center of ZIP 88351: very cobbly loam, well drained, pH about 8.2 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Tinnie, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 88351 came on Feb 14 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 18), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Tinnie, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 88351 is 14 h 22 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 88351 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 88351 in zone 7a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.