Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 88265 (Monument, 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, Hobbs 13W, NM (9 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1350% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)230 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 88265 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 13: 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 5 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 28 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 15 |
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 30 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 13 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 28 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 10 | Nov 3 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 28 | Nov 13 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 10 | Nov 23 |
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 88265
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 28) and first fall frost (Nov 13). 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 31–Feb 14 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 17–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 17–31 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 17–31 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Mar 7–28 (transplant) Feb 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 9 (transplant) Sep 4–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 14–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 18 (transplant) Aug 7–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Feb 28–Mar 28 (transplant) Feb 28–Mar 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 18 (transplant) Aug 7–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 17–31 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | Aug 7–Sep 4 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 17–31 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | Aug 7–Sep 4 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 17–31 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 7–Sep 4 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 3–17 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 28–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 28–Mar 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 16 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 28–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 14–28 | Mar 14–Apr 4 (transplant) Mar 14–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 28–Mar 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 7–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 21–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 28–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 31–Feb 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 3–17 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 14–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 3–17 | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 2–30 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Oct 2–30 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 7 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 18–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 28–Mar 7 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 28–Mar 7 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 28–Mar 7 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 28–Mar 7 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 28–Mar 7 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 14–28 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 3–17 | Apr 4–11 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 14–28 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) Apr 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 14–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 17–31 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) Mar 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | Sep 4–Oct 2 (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: Hobbs 13W, NM (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00294030), elevation 3,836 ft, 8.9 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hobbs, NM | 16 mi | Mar 28 | Nov 10 |
| Ochoa, NM | 29 mi | Apr 4 | Nov 6 |
| Waste Isolt'n Pilot Plt, NM | 30 mi | Apr 6 | Nov 2 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 9 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 88265
When is the last frost in 88265?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 88265 is March 28. For a more cautious planting date, use April 15, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 88265?
The average first fall freeze is November 13. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 30.
What hardiness zone is 88265?
ZIP 88265 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 88265 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
88240 Hobbs 88231 Eunice 88244 Hobbs 88242 North Hobbs 88260 Lovington 88264 88252 Jal 79323 Denver City
Other ZIP codes in Lea County
88114 88231 88240 88242 88244 88252 88260 88262 88264 88267 All Lea 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.