Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 88020 (Cotton City, 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, Animas 3ESE, NM (11 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 750% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)218 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8a10 to 15°F avg. coldest night
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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 88020 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
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 7: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
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) | Mar 10 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 2 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 21 |
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) | Oct 23 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 7 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 21 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 18 | Oct 30 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 2 | Nov 7 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 11 | Nov 18 |
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 88020
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 2) and first fall frost (Nov 7). 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 | Feb 5–19 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 11–Aug 8 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 8 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 8 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Feb 5–19 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 5–19 | Mar 12–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 5–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–Oct 3 (transplant) Aug 29–Sep 26 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 19–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 5–19 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–Sep 12 (transplant) Aug 1–29 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 5–19 | Mar 5–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 5–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–Sep 12 (transplant) Aug 1–29 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 1–29 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 1–29 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) | Aug 1–29 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 8–22 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 8 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 5–19 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 5–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 19–Mar 5 | Mar 19–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 5–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 12–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 5–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 8–22 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 19–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 8–22 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 26–Oct 24 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Sep 26–Oct 24 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 23–May 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 5–12 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 5–12 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Mar 5–12 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 5–12 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 5–12 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 19–Mar 5 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) Apr 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 8–22 | Apr 9–16 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 19–Mar 5 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 19–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 22–Feb 5 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 12–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 29–Sep 26 (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: Animas 3ESE, NM (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00290417), elevation 4,501 ft, 11.4 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portal 4 SW, AZ | 23 mi | May 3 | Oct 25 |
| Paradise, AZ | 25 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 27 |
| Hachita 1W, NM | 30 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 27 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 32 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 88020
When is the last frost in 88020?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 88020 is April 2. For a more cautious planting date, use April 21, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 88020?
The average first fall freeze is November 7. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 23.
What hardiness zone is 88020?
ZIP 88020 is in USDA zone 8a (10 to 15°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 88020 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
88056 Rodeo 88009 Playas 85632 San Simon 88040 Hachita 85607 Douglas 88045 Lordsburg 85625 Sunizona 85608 Douglas
Other ZIP codes in Hidalgo County
88009 88040 88045 88056 All Hidalgo 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.