Fall in zone 5bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 87577 (Rio Arriba County, 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, Tres Piedras, NM (2 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 3150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 2850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)118 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone5b-15 to -10°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 87577, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
51°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 45°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Alcalde (38 mi), Los Alamos 13 W (61 mi).
4-inch depth
54°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 52°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Alcalde (38 mi), Los Alamos 13 W (61 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 87577 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 54°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 18 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 31 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 18 |
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 15 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 28 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 7 |
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 19 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 31 | Sep 28 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 19 | Oct 5 |
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 87577
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 31) and first fall frost (Sep 28). 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 3–24 (transplant) Jul 20–Aug 17 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 19–May 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–24 (sowing) |
| Kale | Apr 5–19 | May 3–17 (transplant) May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 6–Aug 3 (transplant) Jun 22–Jul 20 (sowing) |
| Collards | Apr 5–19 | May 3–31 (transplant) May 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Jul 6–Aug 3 (transplant) Jun 22–Jul 20 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 22–Apr 5 | May 3–17 (transplant) | Jun 22–Jul 20 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 22–Apr 5 | May 3–17 (transplant) | Jun 22–Jul 20 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 22–Apr 5 | May 17–31 (transplant) | Jun 22–Jul 20 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 8–22 | May 3–17 (transplant) | Jun 8–29 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 5–19 | May 3–17 (transplant) May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | May 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | May 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–31 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | May 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 19–May 3 | May 17–Jun 7 (transplant) May 17–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | May 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 10–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 6–20 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 26–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | May 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 10–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Apr 5–May 3 (sow outdoors) | Jul 6–20 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 8–22 | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 19–May 17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 8–22 | May 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 17–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 19–May 3 (transplant) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | May 3–17 (transplant) | Jun 8–22 (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 3–17 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 22–Apr 5 | May 17–31 (transplant) May 10–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 31–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (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 20–Aug 17 (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: Tres Piedras, NM (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00299085), elevation 8,139 ft, 1.9 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 Rito, NM | 23 mi | May 15 | Oct 7 |
| Cerro, NM | 24 mi | May 31 | Sep 26 |
| Brazos Lodge, NM | 26 mi | May 20 | Oct 4 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 16 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 87577
When is the last frost in 87577?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 87577 is May 31. For a more cautious planting date, use June 18, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 87577?
The average first fall freeze is September 28. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 15.
What hardiness zone is 87577?
ZIP 87577 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 87577 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
87554 87581 87513 Arroyo Hondo 87539 La Madera 87517 87564 San Cristobal 87515 Canjilon 87519
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 87551 87554 All Rio Arriba County frost dates · New Mexico frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.