Fall in zone 6aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 87829 (Escudilla Bonita, 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, Quemado, NM (12 miles away).
- Average last spring frostJun 150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 2950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)117 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 87829, 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 87829 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 20 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jun 1 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 14 |
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 29 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 10 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jun 12 | Sep 21 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jun 1 | Sep 29 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 21 | Oct 6 |
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 87829
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jun 1) and first fall frost (Sep 29). 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 6–20 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 23–Apr 6 | Jun 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 23–Apr 6 | Jun 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Apr 6–20 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Apr 6–20 | May 11–Jun 1 (transplant) May 4–Jun 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–25 (transplant) Jul 21–Aug 18 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 20–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–25 (sowing) |
| Kale | Apr 6–20 | May 4–18 (transplant) May 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 7–Aug 4 (transplant) Jun 23–Jul 21 (sowing) |
| Collards | Apr 6–20 | May 4–Jun 1 (transplant) May 4–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | Jul 7–Aug 4 (transplant) Jun 23–Jul 21 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 23–Apr 6 | May 4–18 (transplant) | Jun 23–Jul 21 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 23–Apr 6 | May 4–18 (transplant) | Jun 23–Jul 21 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 23–Apr 6 | May 18–Jun 1 (transplant) | Jun 23–Jul 21 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 9–23 | May 4–18 (transplant) | Jun 9–30 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 6–20 | May 4–18 (transplant) May 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | May 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | May 4–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | May 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 20–May 4 | May 18–Jun 8 (transplant) May 18–Jun 15 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | May 4–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 11–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 7–21 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 27–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | May 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 11–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Apr 6–May 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 7–21 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 9–23 | Apr 20–May 4 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 20–May 18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 9–23 | May 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 18–Sep 15 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 20–May 4 (transplant) | Aug 18–Sep 15 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | May 4–18 (transplant) | Jun 9–23 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 22–Jul 6 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 22–Jul 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | May 4–11 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | May 4–11 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | May 4–11 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | May 4–11 | Jun 15–29 (transplant) Jun 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | May 4–11 | Jun 15–29 (transplant) Jun 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 20–May 4 | Jun 15–29 (transplant) Jun 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 9–23 | Jun 8–15 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 20–May 4 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 18–Jun 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 23–Apr 6 | May 18–Jun 1 (transplant) May 11–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | May 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | May 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | May 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 18 (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: Quemado, NM (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00297180), elevation 6,878 ft, 12.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fence Lake, NM | 29 mi | May 31 | Oct 1 |
| Luna Rs, NM | 33 mi | Jun 17 | Sep 21 |
| Springerville, AZ | 36 mi | Jun 1 | Sep 26 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 17 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 87829
When is the last frost in 87829?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 87829 is June 1. For a more cautious planting date, use June 14, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 87829?
The average first fall freeze is September 29. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 15.
What hardiness zone is 87829?
ZIP 87829 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 87829 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
87820 Aragon 87315 Fence Lake 87827 Pie Town 87824 Luna 85932 Nutrioso 87830 Apache Creek 87821 Datil 85920 Alpine
Other ZIP codes in Catron County
87820 87821 87824 87827 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.