Frost dates for ZIP 87120 (Albuquerque, 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, Petroglyph Natl Mon, NM (3 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 1550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2750% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)193 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7b5 to 10°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
59°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 61°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Los Lunas PMC (25 mi), Los Alamos 13 W (52 mi), Sevilleta (54 mi).
4-inch depth
59°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 61°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Los Lunas PMC (25 mi), Los Alamos 13 W (52 mi), Sevilleta (54 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 87120 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 59°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: 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.
Your average first frost is Oct 27: 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 31 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 15 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 30 |
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 16 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 27 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 7 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 27 | Oct 19 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 15 | Oct 27 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 31 | Nov 4 |
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 87120
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 15) and first fall frost (Oct 27). 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 18–Mar 4 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 4–18 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 4–18 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Mar 25–Apr 15 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–22 (transplant) Aug 18–Sep 15 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–22 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–Sep 1 (transplant) Jul 21–Aug 18 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Mar 18–Apr 15 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–Sep 1 (transplant) Jul 21–Aug 18 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 4–18 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 18 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 4–18 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 18 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 4–18 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 18 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Jul 7–28 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 18–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–29 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 18–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 4–18 | Apr 1–22 (transplant) Apr 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 18–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 25–Apr 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 11–Apr 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 18–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 25–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 18–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 4–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 15–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | Sep 15–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Jul 7–21 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 18–25 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 18–25 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 18–25 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 18–25 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 18–25 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 4–18 | Apr 29–May 13 (transplant) Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Apr 22–29 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 4–18 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) Apr 22–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 4–18 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) Mar 25–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Aug 18–Sep 15 (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: Petroglyph Natl Mon, NM (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00296754), elevation 5,121 ft, 2.9 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Grande Nature Ctr, NM | 4 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 20 |
| Albuquerque Valley, NM | 9 mi | Apr 18 | Oct 24 |
| Rio Rancho #2, NM | 11 mi | Apr 8 | Nov 1 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 15 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 87120
When is the last frost in 87120?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 87120 is April 15. For a more cautious planting date, use April 30, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 87120?
The average first fall freeze is October 27. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 16.
What hardiness zone is 87120?
ZIP 87120 is in USDA zone 7b (5 to 10°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 87120 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
87104 Albuquerque 87114 Albuquerque 87107 Albuquerque 87101 Albuquerque 87102 Albuquerque 87124 Rio Rancho Estates 87048 Corrales 87109 Albuquerque
Other ZIP codes in Bernalillo County
87008 87022 87059 87068 87101 87102 87104 87105 87106 87107 87108 87109 87110 87111 87112 87113 87114 87116 87117 87121 87122 87123 87151 All Bernalillo County frost dates · New Mexico frost dates
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