Frost dates for Tierra Amarilla, NM
When the last spring frost and first fall frost usually come, and when to plant, from 30 years of NOAA weather records.
Last spring frost
June 11
typical year
Safe to plant
June 26
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
September 20
typical year
Growing season
98 days
frost-free, typical year
Frost watch this week
Tonight's and the next six nights' lows from the National Weather Service forecast for the station's location. Frost: 32°F or colder. Possible frost: 33–36°F, mostly in low spots on clear, still nights.
When to plant
Counted from this page's frost dates. Warm-season crops wait for the safe-to-plant date.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool-season crops | |||
| Peas | – | May 14 – 28 | – |
| Spinach | – | Apr 30 – May 21 | Jul 26 – Aug 9 |
| Lettuce | – | May 14 – Jun 4 | Jul 26 – Aug 9 |
| Radishes | – | May 14 – Jun 25 | Aug 9 – 23 |
| Onions | – | May 14 – 28 | – |
| Potatoes | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Carrots | – | May 21 – Jun 11 | Jun 28 – Jul 12 |
| Beets | – | May 14 – 28 | Jul 12 – 26 |
| Kale | Apr 2 – 16 | May 14 – 28 | Jul 12 – 26 |
| Broccoli | Apr 2 – 16 | May 28 – Jun 11 | Jul 12 – 26 |
| Cabbage | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | May 14 – 28 | Jul 12 – 26 |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 9 – 30 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | May 1 – 15 | Jun 26 – Jul 10 | – |
| Peppers | Apr 24 – May 8 | Jul 3 – 17 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | Jun 26 – Jul 17 | – |
| Zucchini | – | Jun 26 – Jul 24 | – |
| Pumpkins | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Green beans | – | Jun 26 – Jul 12 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 26 – Jul 24 | – |
| Basil | May 22 – Jun 5 | Jul 3 – 10 | – |
Onions: from sets. Green beans: until 10 weeks before the first fall frost. Garlic: harvest next summer.
The year at a glance
Start indoors Plant outside Fall planting
The chance of frost, by date
| 1 year in 10 | Half of years | 9 years in 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring frost after | June 26 | June 11 | May 29 |
| Fall frost before | September 8 | September 20 | September 29 |
Frost here means 32°F or colder. Read across: in 1 year in 10, spring frost carries on past the first date, which is why that date is the safe-to-plant date.
Hard freeze (28°F)
A hard freeze kills most garden plants, even hardy ones. The last one in spring usually comes around May 28 (June 11 in a late year), and the first one in fall around September 28.
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station TIERRA AMARILLA 4 N, NM US (USC00298845), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 1 zip code, all within 8 miles:
87551
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.