Fall in zone 7bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 88028 (Cliff, 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, Cliff 11 SE, NM (13 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 1550% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)157 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7b5 to 10°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 88028, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
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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 88028 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
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
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) | Apr 28 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 9 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 24 |
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 3 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 15 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 27 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 23 | Oct 6 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 9 | Oct 15 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 28 | Oct 25 |
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 88028
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 9) and first fall frost (Oct 15). 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 | Mar 14–28 | May 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 28–Mar 14 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 28–Mar 14 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 14–28 | May 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 14–28 | Apr 18–May 9 (transplant) Apr 11–May 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 10 (transplant) Aug 6–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 28–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 14–28 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (transplant) Jul 9–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 14–28 | Apr 11–May 9 (transplant) Apr 11–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (transplant) Jul 9–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 14–28 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 16 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 14–28 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 11–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 11–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 28–Apr 11 | Apr 25–May 16 (transplant) Apr 25–May 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 11–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 18–May 16 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 4–May 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 11–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 18–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 14–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 14–28 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 28–Apr 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 14–28 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 3–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Sep 3–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 9 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 30–Jun 13 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 30–Jun 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 11–18 | May 16–30 (transplant) May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 11–18 | May 16–30 (transplant) May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 11–18 | May 16–30 (transplant) May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 11–18 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 11–18 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 28–Apr 11 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 14–28 | May 16–23 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 28–Apr 11 | May 16–30 (transplant) May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 25–May 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Apr 25–May 9 (transplant) Apr 18–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (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: Cliff 11 SE, NM (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00291910), elevation 4,773 ft, 13.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redrock 1 NNE, NM | 18 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 23 |
| Glenwood, NM | 27 mi | May 6 | Oct 18 |
| Duncan, AZ | 30 mi | Apr 24 | Oct 25 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 16 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 88028
When is the last frost in 88028?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 88028 is May 9. For a more cautious planting date, use May 24, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 88028?
The average first fall freeze is October 15. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 3.
What hardiness zone is 88028?
ZIP 88028 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 88028 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
88025 Buckhorn 88051 88055 Redrock 88038 Gila 88039 Alma 88053 Pinos Altos 88065 Tyrone 88061 Silver City
Other ZIP codes in Grant County
88022 88023 88025 88026 88034 88038 88041 88043 88049 88051 88053 88055 88061 88065 All Grant County frost dates · New Mexico frost dates
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- Freeze alerts
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- Weekly yard to-dos
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.