Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 88046 (Mesilla, 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, State Univ, NM (2 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 1250% 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)241 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 18, 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 62°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Jornada Exp Range (21 mi), Las Cruces 20 N (24 mi).
4-inch depth
64°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 65°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Jornada Exp Range (21 mi), Las Cruces 20 N (24 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 88046 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 64°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 Apr 27 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 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) | Feb 23 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 12 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 2 |
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 24 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 1 | Nov 4 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 12 | Nov 13 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 26 | Nov 24 |
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 88046
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 12) 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 15–29 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) | Jul 17–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 1–15 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 1–15 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 15–29 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 15–29 | Feb 19–Mar 12 (transplant) Feb 12–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 9 (transplant) Sep 4–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 29–Feb 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 15–29 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 18 (transplant) Aug 7–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 15–29 | Feb 12–Mar 12 (transplant) Feb 12–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 18 (transplant) Aug 7–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 1–15 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Aug 7–Sep 4 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 1–15 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Aug 7–Sep 4 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 1–15 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | Aug 7–Sep 4 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 15–29 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 12–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 16 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 12–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Feb 26–Mar 19 (transplant) Feb 26–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 12–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 19–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 5–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 12–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 19–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 15–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 29–Feb 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 2–30 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | Oct 2–30 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 7 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 12–19 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 12–19 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 12–19 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 12–19 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 12–19 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Mar 19–26 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) Mar 19–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 26–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 1–15 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 12–26 (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: State Univ, NM (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00298535), elevation 3,886 ft, 2.4 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Tuna 1 S, TX | 23 mi | Feb 28 | Nov 20 |
| Las Cruces 20 N, NM | 24 mi | Apr 24 | Oct 24 |
| Jornada EXP Range, NM | 24 mi | Apr 27 | Oct 23 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 61 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 88046
When is the last frost in 88046?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 88046 is March 12. For a more cautious planting date, use April 2, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 88046?
The average first fall freeze is November 13. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 30.
What hardiness zone is 88046?
ZIP 88046 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 88046 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
88001 Las Cruces 88003 University Park 88047 88004 88005 Las Cruces 88048 Mesquite 88007 Las Cruces 88072 Vado
Other ZIP codes in Doña Ana County
87936 87937 87940 87941 88001 88002 88003 88004 88005 88007 88008 88011 88012 88021 88024 88027 88044 88047 88048 88052 88063 88072 All Doña Ana 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.