Frost dates for ZIP 87551 (Los Ojos, 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, Tierra Amarilla 4 N, NM (8 miles away).
- Average last spring frostJun 1150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 2050% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)98 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone5b-15 to -10°F avg. coldest night
This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Fall in zone 5b
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
49°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 40°F, as of Oct 18, 8:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Alcalde (54 mi), Los Alamos 13 W (59 mi).
4-inch depth
52°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 46°F, as of Oct 18, 8:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Alcalde (54 mi), Los Alamos 13 W (59 mi).
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 87551 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 52°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent window is mostly past. Next: spring, when soil reaches 50°F (typically 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 29 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jun 11 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 26 |
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 8 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 20 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Sep 29 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | n/a | n/a |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jun 11 | Sep 20 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 28 | Sep 28 |
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 87551
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jun 11) and first fall frost (Sep 20). 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 16–30 | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Apr 2–16 | Jun 25–Jul 9 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Apr 2–16 | Jun 25–Jul 9 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Apr 16–30 | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Apr 16–30 | May 21–Jun 11 (transplant) May 14–Jun 25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 26–Aug 16 (transplant) Jul 12–Aug 9 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 30–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 26–Aug 16 (sowing) |
| Kale | Apr 16–30 | May 14–28 (transplant) May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Jun 28–Jul 26 (transplant) Jun 14–Jul 12 (sowing) |
| Collards | Apr 16–30 | May 14–Jun 11 (transplant) May 14–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | Jun 28–Jul 26 (transplant) Jun 14–Jul 12 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Apr 2–16 | May 14–28 (transplant) | Jun 14–Jul 12 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Apr 2–16 | May 14–28 (transplant) | Jun 14–Jul 12 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Apr 2–16 | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) | Jun 14–Jul 12 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 19–Apr 2 | May 14–28 (transplant) | May 31–Jun 21 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 16–30 | May 14–28 (transplant) May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 12–26 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 26–Aug 9 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | May 14–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 26–Aug 23 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | May 14–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 26–Aug 9 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 30–May 14 | May 28–Jun 18 (transplant) May 28–Jun 25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 12–26 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | May 14–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 12–26 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 21–Jun 18 (sow outdoors) | Jun 28–Jul 12 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | May 7–Jun 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | May 14–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 12–26 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 21–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Apr 16–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Jun 28–Jul 12 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 19–Apr 2 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 30–May 28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 12–26 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 19–Apr 2 | May 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 9–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | May 14–28 (transplant) | May 31–Jun 14 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jul 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 18–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 18–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 18–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 25–Jul 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jul 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | May 14–21 | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) Jun 18–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | May 14–21 | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) Jun 18–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | May 14–21 | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) Jun 18–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 18–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | May 14–21 | Jun 25–Jul 9 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | May 14–21 | Jun 25–Jul 9 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 30–May 14 | Jun 25–Jul 9 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 19–Apr 2 | Jun 18–25 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 30–May 14 | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) Jun 18–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 28–Jun 25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 26–Aug 9 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Apr 2–16 | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) May 21–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 26–Aug 9 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | May 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | May 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | May 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 12–Aug 9 (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: Tierra Amarilla 4 N, NM (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00298845), elevation 7,464 ft, 7.6 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| El Vado Dam, NM | 8 mi | Jun 13 | Sep 18 |
| Brazos Lodge, NM | 12 mi | May 20 | Oct 4 |
| Chama, NM | 16 mi | Jun 14 | Sep 18 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 25 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 87551
When is the last frost in 87551?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 87551 is June 11. For a more cautious planting date, use June 26, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 87551?
The average first fall freeze is September 20. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 8.
What hardiness zone is 87551?
ZIP 87551 is in USDA zone 5b (-15 to -10°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 87551 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
87575 Tierra Amarilla 87520 Chama 87528 Dulce 87518 87515 Canjilon 87510 Abiquiu 81128 87017 Gallina
Other ZIP codes in Rio Arriba County
87012 87017 87029 87046 87064 87412 87510 87511 87515 87516 87518 87520 87521 87523 87527 87528 87530 87532 87537 87539 87548 87549 87554 87566 All Rio Arriba County frost dates · New Mexico frost dates
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