Frost dates for ZIP 87524 (Costilla, NM)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Cerro, NM (16 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 3150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 2650% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)116 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone5a-20 to -15°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 17, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 87524 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring mid-April to mid-May.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Mountain West and High Plains. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | May 17 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 31 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 13 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Sep 14 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 26 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 6 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jun 11 | Sep 17 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 31 | Sep 26 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 18 | Oct 3 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 87524
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 31) and first fall frost (Sep 26). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 5–19 | Jun 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 22–Apr 5 | Jun 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 22–Apr 5 | Jun 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Apr 5–19 | Jun 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Apr 5–19 | May 10–31 (transplant) May 3–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–22 (transplant) Jul 18–Aug 15 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 19–May 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–22 (sowing) |
| Kale | Apr 5–19 | May 3–17 (transplant) May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 4–Aug 1 (transplant) Jun 20–Jul 18 (sowing) |
| Collards | Apr 5–19 | May 3–31 (transplant) May 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Jul 4–Aug 1 (transplant) Jun 20–Jul 18 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 22–Apr 5 | May 3–17 (transplant) | Jun 20–Jul 18 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 22–Apr 5 | May 3–17 (transplant) | Jun 20–Jul 18 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 22–Apr 5 | May 17–31 (transplant) | Jun 20–Jul 18 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 8–22 | May 3–17 (transplant) | Jun 6–27 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 5–19 | May 3–17 (transplant) May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–15 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | May 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–29 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | May 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–15 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 19–May 3 | May 17–Jun 7 (transplant) May 17–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | May 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 10–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 4–18 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 26–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | May 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 10–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Apr 5–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Jul 4–18 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 8–22 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 19–May 17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 8–22 | May 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 15–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | Aug 15–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | May 3–17 (transplant) | Jun 6–20 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 21–Jul 5 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 21–Jul 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | May 3–10 | Jun 7–21 (transplant) Jun 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | May 3–10 | Jun 7–21 (transplant) Jun 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | May 3–10 | Jun 7–21 (transplant) Jun 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | May 3–10 | Jun 14–28 (transplant) Jun 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | May 3–10 | Jun 14–28 (transplant) Jun 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 19–May 3 | Jun 14–28 (transplant) Jun 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 8–22 | Jun 7–14 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 19–May 3 | Jun 7–21 (transplant) Jun 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 17–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–15 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 22–Apr 5 | May 17–31 (transplant) May 10–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 31–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–15 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 31–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | May 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | May 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | May 3–17 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 15 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Cerro, NM (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00291630), elevation 7,650 ft, 16.2 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis 1 S, CO | 17 mi | May 31 | Sep 23 |
| Red River, NM | 19 mi | Jun 19 | Sep 7 |
| Manassa, CO | 26 mi | May 28 | Sep 21 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 22 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 87524
When is the last frost in 87524?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 87524 is May 31. For a more cautious planting date, use June 13, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 87524?
The average first fall freeze is September 26. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 14.
What hardiness zone is 87524?
ZIP 87524 is in USDA zone 5a (-20 to -15°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 87524 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
81138 87556 Questa 87512 81152 San Luis 87519 81126 87558 Red River 81151 Sanford
Other ZIP codes in Taos County
87512 87513 87514 87517 87519 87525 87529 87531 87543 87553 87556 87557 87558 87564 87571 87579 87580 All Taos County frost dates · New Mexico frost dates
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