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

Planting zone for 88352 — Tularosa, NM

ZIP code 88352 (Tularosa, Otero County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 5 and the first fall frost November 4.

Where ZIP 88352 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 5
First frostNov 4
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 Tularosa, 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 Tularosa, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 5median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 22only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 4median — 10% chance by Oct 20
Growing season212 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 17 and returns around November 15.

From the NOAA station Tularosa, NM — 7 miles away, elevation 4,423 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 88352

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 19 – May 3
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 9 – Sep 23
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 21 – Nov 25
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 5) and first fall frost (Nov 4) 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 88352 came on Feb 10 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 17).

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 Tularosa, NM.

Soil in Tularosa, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 88352 is Alamogordo — very fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureVery fine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH8.2alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.7%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Alamogordo-Gypsum land complex, 0 to 5 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 88352; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Tularosa, NM

Summer high94 °Faverage high, June
Winter low29 °Faverage low, January
Hot days91days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights73nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,863base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 21 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 57 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation13.1 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 56 °F, low 29 °F 56°29° JanFebruary: average high 61 °F, low 33 °F 61°33° FebMarch: average high 69 °F, low 39 °F 69°39° MarApril: average high 77 °F, low 45 °F 77°45° AprMay: average high 85 °F, low 53 °F 85°53° MayJune: average high 94 °F, low 62 °F 94°62° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 66 °F 93°66° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 65 °F 91°65° AugSeptember: average high 86 °F, low 59 °F 86°59° SepOctober: average high 76 °F, low 48 °F 76°48° OctNovember: average high 64 °F, low 37 °F 64°37° NovDecember: average high 55 °F, low 30 °F 55°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 0.58 in precipitation 0.6 JanFebruary: 0.57 in precipitation 0.6 FebMarch: 0.43 in precipitation 0.4 MarApril: 0.52 in precipitation 0.5 AprMay: 0.52 in precipitation 0.5 MayJune: 0.94 in precipitation 0.9 JunJuly: 2.36 in precipitation 2.4 JulAugust: 2.57 in precipitation 2.6 AugSeptember: 1.84 in precipitation 1.8 SepOctober: 1.28 in precipitation 1.3 OctNovember: 0.79 in precipitation 0.8 NovDecember: 0.74 in precipitation 0.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Tularosa, NM (7 mi away); precipitation: Tularosa 1.0 E, NM (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

883147b
Bent, NM · 8 mi
883377b
La Luz, NM · 13 mi
883308a
Holloman Air Force Base, NM · 21 mi
883457a
Ruidoso, NM · 23 mi
883417a
Nogal, NM · 23 mi
883258a
High Rolls Mountain Park, NM · 23 mi
883557a
Ruidoso, NM · 23 mi
883407a
Mescalero, NM · 24 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 88352

What planting zone is ZIP code 88352?

ZIP code 88352 (Tularosa, 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 Tularosa, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 88352 is April 5; after April 22 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Tularosa station.

When is the first frost in Tularosa, NM?

The median first fall frost near 88352 is November 4, giving a median frost-free growing season of 212 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 88352?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 8 – Feb 22 and set transplants outside around Apr 12 – Apr 26, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 88352 get?

About 13.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Tularosa 1.0 E station).

How hot do summers get in Tularosa, NM?

The average high peaks at 94 °F in June, with about 91 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 88352 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Alamogordo at the center of ZIP 88352: very fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 8.2 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Tularosa, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 88352 came on Feb 10 in 2026, 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 17), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Tularosa, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 88352 is 14 h 21 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.