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

Planting zone for 88435 — Santa Rosa, NM

ZIP code 88435 (Santa Rosa, Guadalupe 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 23.

Where ZIP 88435 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 23
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 Santa Rosa, 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 Santa Rosa, 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 6only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 23median — 10% chance by Oct 10
Growing season183 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 4 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Santa Rosa, NM — 7 miles away, elevation 4,649 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 88435

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 28 – Sep 11
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 9 – Nov 13
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 20) and first fall frost (Oct 23) 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 88435 came on Feb 15 — 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 27).

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 Santa Rosa, NM.

Soil in Santa Rosa, NM

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 88435 is Clovis — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.45%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Clovis-Pastura association, 0 to 3 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 88435; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Santa Rosa, NM

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July
Winter low25 °Faverage low, January
Hot days77days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights115nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,179base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 30 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 48 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
Snowfall11 inper year; 4 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 56 °F, low 25 °F 56°25° JanFebruary: average high 60 °F, low 27 °F 60°27° FebMarch: average high 68 °F, low 33 °F 68°33° MarApril: average high 75 °F, low 40 °F 75°40° AprMay: average high 83 °F, low 48 °F 83°48° MayJune: average high 92 °F, low 58 °F 92°58° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 62 °F 93°62° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 60 °F 91°60° AugSeptember: average high 85 °F, low 53 °F 85°53° SepOctober: average high 76 °F, low 41 °F 76°41° OctNovember: average high 65 °F, low 31 °F 65°31° NovDecember: average high 55 °F, low 25 °F 55°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 0.81 in precipitation, 3.1 in snowfall 0.8❄3 JanFebruary: 0.47 in precipitation, 1.6 in snowfall 0.5❄2 FebMarch: 0.85 in precipitation, 1.5 in snowfall 0.8❄2 MarApril: 0.80 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 0.8 AprMay: 1.28 in precipitation 1.3 MayJune: 1.55 in precipitation 1.6 JunJuly: 2.39 in precipitation 2.4 JulAugust: 2.16 in precipitation 2.2 AugSeptember: 1.99 in precipitation 2.0 SepOctober: 1.50 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 1.5 OctNovember: 0.46 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 0.5❄1 NovDecember: 0.75 in precipitation, 3.2 in snowfall 0.8❄3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Santa Rosa, NM (7 mi away); precipitation: Santa Rosa, 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.

877247a
La Loma, NM · 22 mi
877116b
Anton Chico, NM · 30 mi
883537a
Vaughn, NM · 31 mi
884217a
Garita, NM · 36 mi
884317a
Newkirk, NM · 36 mi
883216b
Encino, NM · 36 mi
875836b
Villanueva, NM · 40 mi
875696b
Serafina, NM · 42 mi

New Mexico planting zones →

Questions about 88435

What planting zone is ZIP code 88435?

ZIP code 88435 (Santa Rosa, 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 Santa Rosa, NM?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 88435 is April 20; after May 6 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Santa Rosa station.

When is the first frost in Santa Rosa, NM?

The median first fall frost near 88435 is October 23, giving a median frost-free growing season of 183 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 88435?

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 88435 get?

About 15 inches of precipitation a year and 11 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Santa Rosa station).

How hot do summers get in Santa Rosa, NM?

The average high peaks at 93 °F in July, with about 77 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 88435 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Clovis at the center of ZIP 88435: loam, well drained, pH about 7.2 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Santa Rosa, NM in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 88435 came on Feb 15 in 2026, 12 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 27), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Santa Rosa, NM?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 88435 is 14 h 30 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.