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

Planting zone for 88430 — Nara Visa, NM

ZIP code 88430 (Nara Visa, Quay County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 20 and the first fall frost October 21.

Where ZIP 88430 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 frostApr 20
First frostOct 21
2012 zone6b

Was 6b 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 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Nara Visa, 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 Nara Visa, NM

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 20median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 21median — 10% chance by Oct 6
Growing season183 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 8 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Mccarty Rch, NM — 10 miles away, elevation 4,410 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 88430

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 30
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 27 – May 11
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 4 – May 18
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
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 20) 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 88430 came on Feb 15 — 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 2).

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 Nara Visa, NM.

Soil in Nara Visa, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 88430 is Dallam — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Dallam fine sandy loam, 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 88430; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Nara Visa, NM

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low23 °Faverage low, January
Hot days60days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights121nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,937base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 34 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 44 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation15 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall19 inper year; 14 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 51 °F, low 23 °F 51°23° JanFebruary: average high 55 °F, low 26 °F 55°26° FebMarch: average high 63 °F, low 32 °F 63°32° MarApril: average high 71 °F, low 40 °F 71°40° AprMay: average high 79 °F, low 49 °F 79°49° MayJune: average high 88 °F, low 59 °F 88°59° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 63 °F 91°63° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 62 °F 89°62° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 54 °F 82°54° SepOctober: average high 72 °F, low 42 °F 72°42° OctNovember: average high 60 °F, low 31 °F 60°31° NovDecember: average high 50 °F, low 24 °F 50°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 0.33 in precipitation, 3.7 in snowfall 0.3❄4 JanFebruary: 0.38 in precipitation, 3.5 in snowfall 0.4❄4 FebMarch: 0.77 in precipitation, 3.2 in snowfall 0.8❄3 MarApril: 1.05 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 1.1❄1 AprMay: 1.82 in precipitation 1.8 MayJune: 1.74 in precipitation 1.7 JunJuly: 2.55 in precipitation 2.5 JulAugust: 2.58 in precipitation 2.6 AugSeptember: 1.38 in precipitation 1.4 SepOctober: 1.39 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 1.4 OctNovember: 0.57 in precipitation, 2.8 in snowfall 0.6❄3 NovDecember: 0.46 in precipitation, 4.6 in snowfall 0.5❄5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Mccarty Rch, NM (10 mi away); precipitation: Mccarty Rch, NM (10 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.

884106b
Amistad, NM · 17 mi
884267a
Logan, NM · 17 mi
884117a
Bard, NM · 29 mi
884366b
Sedan, NM · 34 mi
790017a
Adrian, TX · 35 mi
877336b
Mosquero, NM · 37 mi
884347a
San Jon, NM · 39 mi
790226b
Dalhart, TX · 45 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 88430

What planting zone is ZIP code 88430?

ZIP code 88430 (Nara Visa, 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 Nara Visa, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 88430 is April 20; after May 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mccarty Rch station.

When is the first frost in Nara Visa, NM?

The median first fall frost near 88430 is October 21, giving a median frost-free growing season of 183 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 88430?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 23 – Mar 9 and set transplants outside around Apr 27 – May 11, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 88430 get?

About 15 inches of precipitation a year and 19 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mccarty Rch station).

How hot do summers get in Nara Visa, NM?

The average high peaks at 91 °F in July, with about 60 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 88430 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Dallam at the center of ZIP 88430: fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 7.2 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Nara Visa, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 88430 came on Feb 15 in 2026, 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 2), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Nara Visa, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 88430 is 14 h 34 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 88430 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 88430 in zone 6b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.