Las Cruces, NM planting zone & frost dates
Las Cruces is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. The last spring frost usually comes around March 12 and the first fall frost around November 13, for a growing season of about 241 days.
Planting calendar for Las Cruces
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (March 12) using the typical timing recommended by U.S. extension services. Warm-season crops go out only after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors: Jan 15 – Jan 29 Transplant outdoors: Mar 19 – Mar 26 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Jan 1 – Jan 15 Transplant outdoors: Mar 26 – Apr 2 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Jan 1 – Jan 15 Transplant outdoors: Mar 26 – Apr 2 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Jan 1 – Jan 15 Transplant outdoors: Feb 12 – Feb 26 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Jan 1 – Jan 15 Transplant outdoors: Feb 12 – Feb 26 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Feb 12 – Feb 26 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Jan 29 – Feb 12 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Jan 29 – Feb 12 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Feb 12 – Feb 26 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Feb 12 – Feb 26 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Feb 12 – Feb 26 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: Mar 19 – Mar 26 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Mar 19 – Mar 26 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: Mar 19 – Mar 26 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: Mar 19 – Mar 26 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Jan 29 – Feb 12 Transplant outdoors: Mar 19 – Mar 26 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Sep 18 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Nov 13).
Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Feb 23 | Mar 12 | Apr 2 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Nov 24 | Nov 13 | Oct 30 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after April 2, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before October 30. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around February 26.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Las Cruces
- 88001 zone 8b
- 88003 zone 8b
- 88004 zone 8b
- 88005 zone 8a
- 88006 zone 8b
- 88007 zone 8b
- 88011 zone 8b
- 88012 zone 7b
- 88013 zone 8b
Nearby cities
- Chaparral zone 8b, last frost Feb 28
- Sunland Park zone 8b, last frost Mar 23
- Deming zone 8a, last frost Apr 7
- Alamogordo zone 8a, last frost Mar 9
- Silver City zone 7b, last frost Apr 4
- Artesia zone 7b, last frost Apr 11
- Los Lunas zone 7b, last frost Apr 23
- Roswell zone 7b, last frost Apr 13
Questions
What growing zone is Las Cruces, NM?
Las Cruces is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8b (average extreme winter low 15°F to 20°F), according to the USDA 2023 map. Some ZIP codes of the city fall in zones 7b, 8a.
When is the last frost in Las Cruces?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Las Cruces is March 12. There is still a 10% chance of frost until April 2.
When can I plant tomatoes in Las Cruces?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around Mar 19 – Mar 26. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station State Univ, NM (USC00298535), 3.8 km (2.4 mi) from the city center, elevation 1184 m, based on 25 years of records. Hardiness zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 for the ZIP code nearest to the city center. Microclimates (valleys, hills, cities, coasts) can be warmer or colder: check the local forecast before planting. How we calculate the data.