Fall in zone 6aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 87824 (Luna, 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, Luna Rs, NM (2 miles away).
- Average last spring frostJun 1750% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 2150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)93 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6a-10 to -5°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 87824, 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
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 87824 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) | Jun 5 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jun 17 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jul 1 |
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 21 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 1 |
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 17 | Sep 21 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jun 7 | Sep 29 |
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 87824
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jun 17) and first fall frost (Sep 21). 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 22–May 6 | Jun 24–Jul 8 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Apr 8–22 | Jul 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Apr 8–22 | Jul 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Apr 22–May 6 | Jun 24–Jul 8 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Apr 22–May 6 | May 27–Jun 17 (transplant) May 20–Jul 1 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 17 (transplant) Jul 13–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | May 6–27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 17 (sowing) |
| Kale | Apr 22–May 6 | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | Jun 29–Jul 27 (transplant) Jun 15–Jul 13 (sowing) |
| Collards | Apr 22–May 6 | May 20–Jun 17 (transplant) May 20–Jun 17 (sow outdoors) | Jun 29–Jul 27 (transplant) |
| Broccoli | Apr 8–22 | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) | Jun 15–Jul 13 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Apr 8–22 | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) | Jun 15–Jul 13 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Apr 8–22 | Jun 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 25–Apr 8 | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) | – |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 22–May 6 | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–27 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | May 20–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | May 20–Jun 17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | May 20–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | May 6–20 | Jun 3–24 (transplant) Jun 3–Jul 1 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–27 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | May 20–Jun 17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–27 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 27–Jun 24 (sow outdoors) | Jun 29–Jul 13 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | May 13–Jun 24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | May 20–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–27 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 27–Jun 17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Apr 22–May 20 (sow outdoors) | Jun 29–Jul 13 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 25–Apr 8 | May 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | May 6–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–27 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 25–Apr 8 | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 10–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | May 6–20 (transplant) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet potato | – | Jul 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 24–Jul 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 24–Jul 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 24–Jul 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jul 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jul 8–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | May 20–27 | Jun 24–Jul 8 (transplant) Jun 24–Jul 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | May 20–27 | Jun 24–Jul 8 (transplant) Jun 24–Jul 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | May 20–27 | Jun 24–Jul 8 (transplant) Jun 24–Jul 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 24–Jul 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | May 20–27 | Jul 1–15 (transplant) Jul 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | May 20–27 | Jul 1–15 (transplant) Jul 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | May 6–20 | Jul 1–15 (transplant) Jul 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 25–Apr 8 | Jun 24–Jul 1 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | May 6–20 | Jun 24–Jul 8 (transplant) Jun 24–Jul 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jun 3–Jul 1 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Apr 8–22 | Jun 3–17 (transplant) May 27–Jun 17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jun 17–Jul 1 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jun 17–Jul 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 10 (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: Luna Rs, NM (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00295273), elevation 7,050 ft, 2.4 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine, AZ | 10 mi | Jun 15 | Sep 21 |
| Reserve Rs, NM | 14 mi | May 30 | Oct 3 |
| Springerville, AZ | 27 mi | Jun 1 | Sep 26 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 18 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 87824
When is the last frost in 87824?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 87824 is June 17. For a more cautious planting date, use July 1, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 87824?
The average first fall freeze is September 21. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 8.
What hardiness zone is 87824?
ZIP 87824 is in USDA zone 6a (-10 to -5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 87824 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
85920 Alpine 85932 Nutrioso 87830 Apache Creek 85922 87820 Aragon 85925 Eagar 85927 Greer 87829 Escudilla Bonita
Other ZIP codes in Catron County
87820 87821 87827 87829 87830 88039 All Catron 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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- Weekly yard to-dos
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.