Frost dates for ZIP 88044 (La Mesa, 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, Santa Teresa AP, NM (25 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2350% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)231 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 17, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
64°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 67°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Jornada Exp Range (46 mi), Las Cruces 20 N (48 mi).
4-inch depth
65°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 68°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Jornada Exp Range (46 mi), Las Cruces 20 N (48 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 88044 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 65°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Arid Southwest (low desert). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Bermudagrass (warm-season): Spring: Several weeks after the lawn is fully green (April–May) (about May 8 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Every 4–6 weeks through mid-August (heaviest feeder of the group); Late: Light, low-nitrogen/high-potassium feeding about 4 weeks before first frost, or skip. Avoid: Heavy late-fall nitrogen (linked to spring dead spot).
- Perennial ryegrass (cool-season): Early fall: September; Late fall: October–November; Overseeded Bermuda: Light feeding once the winter rye is established, if needed. Avoid: Summer feeding.
Plant now
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 11: 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 3 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 23 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 9 |
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 29 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 11 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 23 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 6 | Nov 2 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 23 | Nov 11 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 5 | Nov 19 |
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 88044
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 23) and first fall frost (Nov 11). 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 | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | Jul 15–Aug 12 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 12–26 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 12 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 12–26 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 12 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Mar 2–23 (transplant) Feb 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–Oct 7 (transplant) Sep 2–30 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 9–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) Feb 23–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (transplant) Aug 5–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Feb 23–Mar 23 (transplant) Feb 23–Mar 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (transplant) Aug 5–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 12–26 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | Aug 5–Sep 2 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 12–26 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | Aug 5–Sep 2 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 12–26 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 5–Sep 2 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 12 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 26–Feb 9 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) Feb 23–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 23–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 23–Mar 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 23–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 9–23 | Mar 9–30 (transplant) Mar 9–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 23–Mar 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 16–Mar 30 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 23–Mar 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 26–Feb 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 9–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 30–Oct 28 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | Sep 30–Oct 28 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 5 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 13–May 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 23–Mar 2 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 23–Mar 2 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 23–Mar 2 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 23–Mar 2 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 23–Mar 2 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 9–23 | Apr 6–20 (transplant) Apr 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Mar 30–Apr 6 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 9–23 | Mar 30–Apr 13 (transplant) Mar 30–Apr 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 9–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 12–26 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) Mar 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 23–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 23–Mar 9 (transplant) | Sep 2–30 (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: Santa Teresa AP, NM (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00298127), elevation 4,109 ft, 24.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| State Univ, NM | 29 mi | Mar 12 | Nov 13 |
| La Tuna 1 S, TX | 30 mi | Feb 28 | Nov 20 |
| Columbus, NM | 33 mi | Mar 18 | Nov 11 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 26 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 88044
When is the last frost in 88044?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 88044 is March 23. For a more cautious planting date, use April 9, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 88044?
The average first fall freeze is November 11. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 29.
What hardiness zone is 88044?
ZIP 88044 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 88044 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
88021 La Union 88005 Las Cruces 88004 88008 Santa Teresa 88027 Chamberino 88046 Mesilla 88047 88048 Mesquite
Other ZIP codes in Doña Ana County
87936 87937 87940 87941 88001 88002 88003 88004 88005 88007 88008 88011 88012 88021 88024 88027 88046 88047 88048 88052 88063 88072 All Doña Ana County frost dates · New Mexico frost dates
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