GardenFacts

All states › New Mexico › Rio Rancho

Frost dates and planting calendar for Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on USDA, NOAA and Colorado State University Extension data. Published by Humblebee.

USDA hardiness zone
7b[1]
Median last spring frost
Apr 25[2]
Median first fall frost
Oct 17[3]
Growing season, median
173 days[4]

Rio Rancho, New Mexico is in USDA hardiness zone 7b[1]. The median last spring frost is April 25[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Apr 11, half of years Apr 25, 1 in 10 years after May 10Last frostmedian Apr 25First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Oct 30, half of years Oct 17, 1 in 10 years before Oct 4First frostmedian Oct 17Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Mar 28 to Apr 11Mar 28 to Apr 11Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Apr 11 to Apr 25Apr 11 to Apr 25TenderTender vegetables: plant around Apr 25around Apr 25Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from May 9from May 9
Shaded: the span between the dates frost passes in 9 of 10 years and 1 of 10 years[2][3]. Green: planting windows from the CSU rules applied to the median last frost (GardenFacts calculation)[6]. Exact dates are in the tables below.

These frost dates come from NOAA climate normals for the Corrales weather station, using records from 1991 to 2020[5]. In half of years the last spring frost comes after April 25, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after May 10[2]. In half of years the first fall frost comes before October 17, and in 1 of 10 years it comes before October 4[3]. These are chances, not promises, so any year can be earlier or later[2].

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after April 11 after April 25 after May 10
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before October 4 before October 17 before October 30
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date April 8, median first fall date October 27[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 154 days in 9 of 10 years, 173 days in half of years and 191 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
  • The low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years and 28°F or colder in 100% of years[8].
  • Weather station: Corrales (USC00292100), 6.4 miles from the city center, 5,026 feet, 22 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension wrote its vegetable planting guide for Colorado, so these dates are a starting point[6]. Hardy vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce and peas can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost, which is March 28 to April 11 here[6]. Tender vegetables such as snap beans and sweet corn can be sown from seed around the median last frost, April 25[9]. Very tender vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers typically wait 2 or more weeks after it, and the earliest start is May 9[10]. Tender and very tender vegetables do not tolerate frost[11].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (April 25) is March 28 to April 11[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (April 25) is April 11, up to the median date itself[12]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, April 25[9]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (April 25), is May 9[10]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[13] Mar 28 Jun 1 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[13] Mar 28 Jun 21 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[13] Mar 28 May 17
Lettuce (hardy)[13] Mar 28 May 27
Onions (hardy)[13] Mar 28 Jul 16
Peas (hardy)[13] Mar 28 Jun 1
Radishes (hardy)[13] Mar 28 Apr 27
Spinach (hardy)[13] Mar 28 May 7
Turnips (hardy)[13] Mar 28 May 17
Beets (semi-hardy)[13] Apr 11 Jun 10
Carrots (semi-hardy)[13] Apr 11 Jun 20
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[13] Apr 11 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[13] Apr 11 Jun 20
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[13] Apr 11 Aug 14
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[13] Apr 11 Jun 10
Snap beans (tender)[13] Apr 25 Jun 24
Sweet corn (tender)[13] Apr 25 Jun 24
Cucumbers (tender)[13] Apr 25 Jun 19
Summer squash (tender)[13] Apr 25 Jun 14
Cantaloupe (very tender)[13] May 9 Aug 2
Eggplant (very tender)[13] May 9 Jul 8 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[13] May 9 Jul 18 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[13] May 9 Jul 13 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[13] May 9 Aug 17
Watermelon (very tender)[13] May 9 Aug 2
Spacing, depth and soil temperature (CSU Extension)
Vegetable Min. soil temp Depth Spacing Days to harvest
Broccoli[14] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 65
Cabbage[14] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 85
Kohlrabi[14] 40°F 1/2 in 7-9 in 50
Lettuce[14] 35°F 1/4 in 7-9 in 60
Onions[14] 35°F 1/4 in (seed), 1-2 in (sets) 4-6 in 110
Peas[14] 40°F 1 in 4-6 in 65
Radishes[14] 40°F 1/2 in 2-3 in 30
Spinach[14] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 40
Turnips[14] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 50
Beets[14] 40°F 3/4-1 in 4-6 in 60
Carrots[14] 40°F 1/4 in 2-3 in 70
Cauliflower[14] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in –
Parsnips[14] 35°F 1/2 in 5-6 in 70
Potatoes[14] 45°F – – 125
Swiss chard[14] 40°F 1 in 7-9 in 60
Snap beans[14] 55°F 1-1 1/2 in 6 in 60
Sweet corn[14] 50°F 1-1 1/2 in 12 x 30 in or 9 x 36 in 60-90
Cucumbers[14] 60°F 1 in 6 in trellised, 24-36 in untrellised 55
Summer squash[14] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 50
Cantaloupe[14] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85
Eggplant[14] 60°F 1/4 in 18-24 in 60
Peppers[14] 60°F 1/4 in 15-18 in 70
Tomatoes[14] 50°F 1/4 in 24 in trellised 65
Winter squash[14] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 100
Watermelon[14] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85

Hardiness zone

The 2023 USDA map puts the center of Rio Rancho in zone 7b, which means an average coldest night of 5°F to 10°F over 1991 to 2020[1]. The zone is based on the coldest winter night, not on summer heat or frost dates[15]. By land area, all of the city lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 7b[16].

Zone 7b: average annual extreme minimum temperature 5°F to 10°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: 7.2°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 7b 100%[16].

All towns in zone 7b and what zone 7b means

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
87144[16] 7b 5 to 10°F
87124[16] 7b 5 to 10°F
87121[16] 7b 5 to 10°F
87114[16] 7b 5 to 10°F
87048[16] 7b 5 to 10°F
87004[16] 7b 5 to 10°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Rio Rancho?
The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Rio Rancho in zone 7b[1]. All of the city by land area is in ZIP code areas rated 7b[16].
When is the last frost in Rio Rancho?
In half of years the last spring frost comes after April 25, based on NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after May 10[2].
When is the first frost in Rio Rancho?
In half of years the first fall frost comes before October 17[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before October 4[3].
When to plant tomatoes in Rio Rancho?
CSU Extension typically says very tender vegetables like tomatoes wait 2 or more weeks after the average last frost, and its guide was written for Colorado[10]. Using the median last frost of April 25, the earliest start is May 9[10].
How long is the growing season in Rio Rancho?
The growing season is at least 173 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 154 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Rio Rancho, New Mexico in zone 7b. Zone 7b means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 5°F to 10°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is 7.2°F. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)
  2. Last spring frost (32°F) at this station: in 9 of 10 years the last frost comes after April 11, in half of years after April 25, and in 1 of 10 years after May 10 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is April 25. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  3. First fall frost (32°F) at this station: in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before October 4, in half of years before October 17, and in 9 of 10 years before October 30 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is October 17. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 154 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 173 days in half of years, and at least 191 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Corrales weather station (USC00292100), 6.4 miles from the center of Rio Rancho at 5,026 feet, using 22 years of records from 1991 to 2020. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  6. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips as hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 2-4 weeks before the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  7. Hard freeze (28°F) at this station: the median last spring date is April 8 and the median first fall date is October 27. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  8. At this station the low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years from 1991 to 2020, and 28°F or colder in 100% of years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  9. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash as tender vegetables, with this rule: from seed around the average last spring frost; cucumber and summer squash... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  10. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon as very tender vegetables, with this rule: typically 2 or more weeks after the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  11. Tender and very tender vegetables do not tolerate frost (CSU Extension). In Rio Rancho the median first fall frost is October 17. CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  12. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard as semi-hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 0-2 weeks before the average last spring frost.... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  13. GardenFacts calculation: earliest planting date plus CSU days to harvest (table on this page), from the station's median last frost. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  14. CSU Extension vegetable table: soil temperature, depth, spacing, days to harvest (table on this page). CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  15. USDA hardiness zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature (the coldest night of each winter, averaged over 1991 to 2020 for the 2023 map), not on summer heat or frost dates. Each zone spans 10°F and each half zone (a or b)... USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
  16. Rio Rancho, New Mexico overlaps 6 ZIP code areas. By land area, 100% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 7b. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)

Frost dates are probabilities from 1991 to 2020 weather records at one NOAA station, not a forecast. Any year can be earlier or later. The hardiness zone describes the average coldest winter night, not frost dates or summer heat. Spots inside the city can differ (ZIP table). Planting rules come from Colorado State University Extension's guide, written for Colorado. A local extension office may give dates tuned to the area. Planting and harvest dates marked GardenFacts calculation are simple arithmetic from the facts above, not advice from the source.

Hardiness zone data: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed October 30, 2026. This is not the official USDA map. Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension.