Fall in zone 7aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 88318 (Duran, 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, Corona 10SW, NM (12 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 2950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2050% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)172 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7a0 to 5°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
56°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 54°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Adams Ranch #1, 6 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 62°, Fri 60°, Sat 56°.
4-inch depth
55°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 53°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Adams Ranch #1, 6 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 60°, Fri 58°, Sat 55°.
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 88318 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 55°F at 4 inches. Fall pre-emergent window is mostly past. Next: spring, when soil reaches 50°F (typically 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.
Your average first frost is Oct 20: 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) | Apr 15 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 29 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 11 |
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 1 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 20 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 4 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 8 | Oct 10 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 29 | Oct 20 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 16 | Oct 30 |
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 88318
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 29) and first fall frost (Oct 20). 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 4–18 | May 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 18–Mar 4 | May 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 18–Mar 4 | May 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 4–18 | May 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 4–18 | Apr 8–29 (transplant) Apr 1–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 15 (transplant) Aug 11–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 18–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 15 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 4–18 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 25 (transplant) Jul 14–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 4–18 | Apr 1–29 (transplant) Apr 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 25 (transplant) Jul 14–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | Jul 14–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | Jul 14–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 14–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 4–18 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | Jun 30–Jul 21 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 4–18 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 22 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 1–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 18–Apr 1 | Apr 15–May 6 (transplant) Apr 15–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 8–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 25–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 1–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 8–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 4–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 4–18 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 18–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 4–18 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 8–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Sep 8–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | Jun 30–Jul 14 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 20–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 1–8 | May 6–20 (transplant) May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 1–8 | May 6–20 (transplant) May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 1–8 | May 6–20 (transplant) May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 1–8 | May 13–27 (transplant) May 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 1–8 | May 13–27 (transplant) May 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 18–Apr 1 | May 13–27 (transplant) May 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 4–18 | May 6–13 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 18–Apr 1 | May 6–20 (transplant) May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 15–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 8–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 29–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | Aug 11–Sep 8 (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: Corona 10SW, NM (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00292095), elevation 6,680 ft, 11.9 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pedernal 9 E, NM | 27 mi | May 9 | Oct 6 |
| Ramon 8 SW, NM | 30 mi | Apr 28 | Oct 16 |
| Gran Quivira Natl Mon, NM | 33 mi | May 2 | Oct 15 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 12 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 88318
When is the last frost in 88318?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 88318 is April 29. For a more cautious planting date, use May 11, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 88318?
The average first fall freeze is October 20. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 1.
What hardiness zone is 88318?
ZIP 88318 is in USDA zone 7a (0 to 5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 88318 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
87011 88353 Vaughn 87063 Willard 88316 Capitan 88321 Encino 88301 Carrizozo 88136 87036 Deer Canyon
Other ZIP codes in Lincoln County
88301 88312 88316 88323 88324 88336 88338 88341 88343 88345 88346 88348 88351 88355 All Lincoln County frost dates · New Mexico frost dates
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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.