Santa Fe, New Mexico planting calendar and frost dates
Santa Fe is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. The last spring frost typically comes around May 14 and the first fall frost around October 6, giving about 144 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- May 14
- Typical first frost
- October 6
- Frost-free season
- 144 days
Frost dates in Santa Fe
Last spring frost
- April 30Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- May 14Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 28Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- September 25Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 6Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- October 18Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 144 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around May 3 and returns around October 16.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Santa Fe 2, 5.1 miles SSW of the city center and 241 feet lower. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Santa Fe
January
Start indoors: onions
February
Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
March
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, tomatoes
April
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cantaloupes, chives, cilantro, collard greens, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
May
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, green onions, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
August
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tulips, turnips
September
Plant for fall: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, saffron, spinach, tulips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Santa Fe
All 4 of Santa Fe's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Santa Fe 2, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 6b in 87501, 87505, and 7a in 87506, 87507.
Planting dates for popular crops in Santa Fe
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Apr 2 to 16 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | May 7 to 21 | Jul 7 to Aug 11 |
| Cilantro | Apr 2 to 16 | May 14 to 21 | — |
| Basil | Apr 5 to 19 | May 24 to 31 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 24 to May 1 | — |
| Garlic | — | Apr 2 to 16 | Oct 6 to 20 |
| Onions | Jan 22 to Mar 5 | Apr 16 to 30 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 26 to May 10 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 30 to May 14 | May 28 to Jun 11 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 8 to Apr 5 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 23 to May 14 | Jul 14 to Aug 4 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 7 to 14 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 19 to May 3 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | May 14 to 28 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 26 to May 10 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 26 to Mar 19 | Apr 16 to 30 | Jul 21 to Aug 18 |
| Peas | — | Apr 2 to 16 | Jul 14 to 28 |
| Spinach | Apr 2 to 9 | May 7 to 21 | Jul 28 to Sep 1 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 14 to Jun 4 | — |
| Zinnias | Jun 3 to 10 | Jul 1 to 15 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Aug 25 to Oct 20 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Aug 25 to Oct 6 |
| Grass Seed | — | Apr 2 to 16 | Aug 25 to Sep 8 |
Nearby cities
- Rio Rancho, NM zone 7b, last frost Apr 6
- Albuquerque, NM zone 7b, last frost Apr 6
- Pueblo, CO zone 6a, last frost Apr 30
- Colorado Springs, CO zone 6a, last frost May 3
- Las Cruces, NM zone 8b, last frost Mar 12
- Amarillo, TX zone 7a, last frost Apr 13
Planting in New MexicoAbout zone 7aPrintable calendar for Santa Fe
Questions
When is the last frost in Santa Fe?
Around May 14 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Santa Fe 2. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 28.
What planting zone is Santa Fe in?
USDA hardiness zone 7a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 6b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Santa Fe?
Start seeds indoors March 29 to April 12 and set plants out May 24 to June 7; the safest date to plant out is after May 28.
When is the first frost in Santa Fe?
Around October 6 in a typical year, and before September 25 about 1 year in 10.