Santa Teresa Airport, NM Frost Dates & Growing Season

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

Last spring frost
Mar 23
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Nov 11
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
233 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
≈ 8b
estimated from nearby reference
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Mar 3 Mar 23 Apr 9
First fall frost Nov 23 Nov 11 Oct 29
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Mar 5 · first Nov 19

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the SANTA TERESA AP station. "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 Santa Teresa Airport

Computed from Santa Teresa Airport'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 26 – Feb 9 Mar 30 – Apr 6
🫑 Peppers Jan 12 – Jan 26 Apr 6 – Apr 13
🥬 Lettuce Feb 9 – Feb 23 Feb 23 – Mar 9 Feb 23 – Mar 23
🫛 Peas Feb 9 – Feb 23
🥕 Carrots Mar 2 – Mar 23
🥦 Broccoli Feb 2 – Feb 16 Mar 2 – Mar 16
🥬 Kale Feb 9 – Feb 23 Feb 23 – Mar 9 Feb 23 – Mar 9
🥒 Cucumbers Feb 23 – Mar 2 Mar 30 – Apr 6 Mar 30 – Apr 6
🥒 Zucchini Feb 23 – Mar 2 Mar 30 – Apr 6 Mar 30 – Apr 6
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Mar 30 – Apr 6
🌽 Sweet Corn Mar 30 – Apr 6
🌿 Basil Feb 9 – Feb 23 Mar 30 – Apr 6 Apr 6 – Apr 13
🧄 Garlic Fall: Sep 30 – Oct 28

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 Santa Teresa Airport's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Santa Teresa Airport

With roughly 233 frost-free days, Santa Teresa Airport 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 11 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Santa Teresa Airport, NM?

The average last spring frost in Santa Teresa Airport is around Mar 23, 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 Santa Teresa Airport, NM?

The average first fall frost in Santa Teresa Airport arrives around Nov 11. 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 Santa Teresa Airport?

About 233 frost-free days on average, from Mar 23 to Nov 11. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Santa Teresa Airport in?

USDA zone 8b 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.