Las Cruces, NM Frost Dates & Growing Season

The two dates every Las Cruces garden is planned around, plus ready-computed planting windows for the most popular crops.

Last spring frost
Mar 12
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Nov 13
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
246 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
8a
2023 hardiness map
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Feb 23 Mar 12 Apr 2
First fall frost Nov 24 Nov 13 Oct 30
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Feb 26 · first Nov 24

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the State Univ station (4 km from central Las Cruces). "Safe" means frost past that date happens only about one year in ten. Your exact garden can still run days either way with elevation and terrain — check your own ZIP with the frost date lookup.

Planting windows for Las Cruces

Computed from Las Cruces's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-8 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.

CropStart seeds indoorsTransplantDirect sow
🍅 Tomatoes Jan 15 – Jan 29 Mar 19 – Mar 26
🫑 Peppers Jan 1 – Jan 15 Mar 26 – Apr 2
🥬 Lettuce Jan 29 – Feb 12 Feb 12 – Feb 26 Feb 12 – Mar 12
🫛 Peas Jan 29 – Feb 12
🥕 Carrots Feb 19 – Mar 12
🥦 Broccoli Jan 22 – Feb 5 Feb 19 – Mar 5
🥬 Kale Jan 29 – Feb 12 Feb 12 – Feb 26 Feb 12 – Feb 26
🥒 Cucumbers Feb 12 – Feb 19 Mar 19 – Mar 26 Mar 19 – Mar 26
🥒 Zucchini Feb 12 – Feb 19 Mar 19 – Mar 26 Mar 19 – Mar 26
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Mar 19 – Mar 26
🌽 Sweet Corn Mar 19 – Mar 26
🌿 Basil Jan 29 – Feb 12 Mar 19 – Mar 26 Mar 26 – Apr 2
🧄 Garlic Fall: Oct 2 – Oct 30

Want this for all 50 crops, or as a printable seed-shelf schedule? Use the planting calendar and the seed starting scheduler — both can use Las Cruces's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Las Cruces

With roughly 246 frost-free days, Las Cruces gardens fit long-season crops — melons, winter squash, sweet potatoes — with room left for spring and fall rounds of greens and roots. The first frost around Nov 13 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Las Cruces, NM?

The average last spring frost in Las Cruces is around Mar 12, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. That's a median — about half of years see a later frost, so tender crops are safest going out a week or two after this date.

When is the first frost in Las Cruces, NM?

The average first fall frost in Las Cruces arrives around Nov 13. Crops still in the garden need to mature before then, and frost-tender plants need harvesting or protection as the date approaches.

How long is the growing season in Las Cruces?

About 246 frost-free days on average, from Mar 12 to Nov 13. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Las Cruces in?

USDA zone 8a on the 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Note that zones describe winter cold, not frost timing — these frost dates are the numbers to plan plantings around.