Frost dates & planting calendar for Albuquerque, NM
Frost dates
Apr 23
Last spring frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, the last frost comes later.
Safer date: May 6. Only 1 freeze year in 10 has a frost after this.
Oct 20
First fall frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, it comes earlier.
Early date: Oct 8. Only 1 freeze year in 10 freezes before this.
179
Days, typical frost-free season
From NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals for this station.
7b
USDA hardiness zone
Coldest night of the winter, averaged over 1991–2020: 5 to 10°F (−15.0 to −12.2°C).
Zone for ZIP 87101, the ZIP nearest the city center; zones can vary within a city. What zone 7b means.
What to plant right now
As of Nov 9, 2026
Typical frost-free season: 179 days. Station: Rio Grande Nature Ctr, NM, 4 km away. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (32°F threshold).
Hardiness zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed 9 Nov 2026.
Can I plant tomatoes now?
Not this season. Start tomato seeds indoors from Mar 11 to Mar 25, then plant them out from May 6 to May 20.
Planting calendar
Windows are counted from the safer dates (May 6 in spring, Oct 8 in fall). Going by the typical dates instead gains you about 2 weeks in spring, with more risk.
March
The next window opens in March.
Tomatotender
Next: start indoors from Mar 11
- Start indoors
- Mar 11 – Mar 25
- Transplant outdoors
- May 6 – May 20
Eggplanttender
Next: start indoors from Mar 11
- Start indoors
- Mar 11 – Mar 25
- Transplant outdoors
- May 6 – May 20
Broccolihardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 11
- Start indoors
- Mar 11 – Mar 25
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 8 – May 6
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 8 – Apr 22
- Sow for fall
- Jul 16 – Jul 30
Cabbagehardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 11
- Start indoors
- Mar 11 – Mar 25
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 8 – May 6
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 8 – Apr 22
- Sow for fall
- Jul 16 – Jul 30
Cauliflowerhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 11
- Start indoors
- Mar 11 – Mar 25
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 22 – May 6
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 15 – May 6
- Sow for fall
- Jul 16 – Jul 30
Brussels sproutshardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 11
- Start indoors
- Mar 11 – Mar 25
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 15 – Apr 15
- Sow for fall
- Jul 16 – Jul 30
Marigoldtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 11
- Start indoors
- Mar 11 – Mar 11
- Transplant outdoors
- May 6 – May 6
Calendulahalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Mar 11
- Start indoors
- Mar 11 – Mar 25
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 29 – May 6
Mexican sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 11
- Start indoors
- Mar 11 – Mar 25
- Sow outdoors
- May 6 – May 6
Leaf lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 25
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 8 – Apr 22
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 25 – Apr 22
Head lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 25
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 8 – Apr 22
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 25 – Apr 22
Zinniatender
Next: start indoors from Mar 25
- Start indoors
- Mar 25 – Apr 8
- Sow outdoors
- May 6 – May 6
Nasturtiumtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 25
- Start indoors
- Mar 25 – Apr 8
- Sow outdoors
- May 6 – May 6
Sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 25
- Start indoors
- Mar 25 – Apr 8
April
The next window opens in April.
Cucumbertender
Next: start indoors from Apr 8
- Start indoors
- Apr 8 – Apr 22
- Sow outdoors
- May 6 – May 13
Summer squashtender
Next: start indoors from Apr 8
- Start indoors
- Apr 8 – Apr 22
- Sow outdoors
- May 6 – May 13
Winter squashtender
Next: start indoors from Apr 8
- Start indoors
- Apr 8 – Apr 22
- Sow outdoors
- May 13 – May 20
Watermelontender
Next: start indoors from Apr 8
- Start indoors
- Apr 8 – Apr 22
- Transplant outdoors
- May 13 – May 20
- Sow outdoors
- May 13 – May 20
Cantaloupetender
Next: start indoors from Apr 8
- Start indoors
- Apr 8 – Apr 15
- Sow outdoors
- May 13 – May 20
Peahardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 8
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 8 – Apr 22
Spinachhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 8
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 8 – Apr 22
Kohlrabihardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 8
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 8 – Apr 22
- Sow for fall
- Jul 16 – Jul 30
Radishhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 8
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 8 – Apr 22
Beethalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 8
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 8 – May 6
Turniphardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 8
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 8 – Apr 22
Bulb onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 8
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 8 – Apr 22
Green onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 8
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 8 – Apr 22
Kalehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 15
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 15 – Apr 15
- Sow for fall
- Jul 16 – Jul 30
Collardshardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 15
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 15 – Apr 15
- Sow for fall
- Jul 16 – Jul 30
Swiss chardhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 22
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 22 – May 6
Carrothalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 22
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 22 – May 6
Potatohalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 22
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 22 – May 6
Parsniphalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 22
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 22 – May 6
Dillhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 22
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 22 – Apr 29
May
The next window opens in May.
Bush beantender
Next: sow outdoors from May 6
- Sow outdoors
- May 6 – May 6
Pole beantender
Next: sow outdoors from May 6
- Sow outdoors
- May 6 – May 6
Sweet corntender
Next: sow outdoors from May 6
- Sow outdoors
- May 6 – May 6
Basiltender
Next: sow outdoors from May 6
- Sow outdoors
- May 6 – May 6
Marjoramtender
Next: transplant outdoors from May 6
- Transplant outdoors
- May 6 – May 6
Pumpkintender
Next: sow outdoors from May 13
- Sow outdoors
- May 13 – May 20
Lima beantender
Next: sow outdoors from May 20
- Sow outdoors
- May 20 – May 20
August
The next window opens in August.
Sweet alyssumhardy
Next: sow for fall from Aug 27
- Sow for fall
- Aug 27 – Aug 27
No window listed
No frost-based window for these crops.
Mustard greenshalf hardy
No frost-based window listed.
No frost-based sowing window is listed for mustard greens.
Crop guidance from university extension services; see each crop page for sources.
Questions
- When is the last frost in Albuquerque?
- The typical last spring frost (32°F) in Albuquerque is Apr 23. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, a frost still comes after May 6.
- When is the first frost in Albuquerque?
- The typical first fall frost is Oct 20. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, it arrives before Oct 8.
- When should I start tomato seeds in Albuquerque?
- Start tomato seeds indoors between Mar 11 and Mar 25, counting back from the safer last-frost date.
- What planting zone is Albuquerque in?
- Albuquerque is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map, going by ZIP 87101, the ZIP nearest the city center. Zones can vary within a city. The zone describes how cold winter nights get, not when to plant; for that, use the frost dates on this page.
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