Frost dates for 87044Ponderosa, NM
The average last spring frost in Ponderosa is May 9 and the average first fall frost is October 11, giving a typical growing season of about 153 days. Dates are based on NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals.
- Average last spring frost
- May 9
- Average first fall frost
- Oct 11
- Growing season
- 153 days
Safer after May 23 (1-in-10 risk)
Possible by Sep 28 (1-in-10 risk)
Last frost typically in 189 days
Frost risk by date
NOAA reports frost dates as probabilities. The middle date is the average (a 50% chance). For spring, the 10% date is a safer planting date: frost after it happens in about 1 year in 10. Light frost (36°F) can damage tender plants; a hard freeze (28°F) kills most annuals.
| Temperature | Last spring: 90% / 50% / 10% chance | First fall: 10% / 50% / 90% chance | Growing season (50%) | Years with at least one |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light frost (36°F) | May 8 · May 20 · Jun 3 | Sep 18 · Oct 2 · Oct 13 | 133 days | 100% |
| Frost / freeze (32°F) | Apr 26 · May 9 · May 23 | Sep 28 · Oct 11 · Oct 22 | 153 days | 100% |
| Hard freeze (28°F) | Apr 12 · Apr 26 · May 12 | Oct 7 · Oct 21 · Nov 1 | 177 days | 100% |
Planting calendar for Ponderosa
Planting windows from the University of Maryland Extension calendar, shifted to your average frost dates. Use them as a starting point and adjust for seed packet instructions and local conditions.
| Crop | Task | Window |
|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors | Apr 8 – Jun 14 |
| Tomatoes | Transplant outdoors | May 25 – Jun 21 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors | Apr 8 – May 9 |
| Peppers | Transplant outdoors | Jun 8 – Jul 9 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors | Apr 25 – May 24 |
| Eggplant | Transplant outdoors | Jun 8 – Jul 9 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors | Jun 8 – Jul 1 |
| Summer squash | Sow outdoors | May 25 – Jul 9 |
| Winter squash & pumpkins | Sow outdoors | Jun 8 – Jul 9 |
| Snap beans | Sow outdoors | May 25 – Jul 24 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors | May 25 – Jun 21 |
| Watermelon & cantaloupe | Sow outdoors | Jun 8 – Jul 9 |
| Okra | Sow outdoors | Jun 1 – Jun 24 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors (spring) | Apr 8 – May 24 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors (spring) | Apr 8 – Jun 8 |
| Onions | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Feb 25 – Mar 24 |
| Onions | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Apr 25 – May 24 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Mar 21 – Apr 24 |
| Broccoli | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Apr 25 – May 24 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors (fall) | Jun 11 – Jun 21 |
| Broccoli | Transplant outdoors (fall) | Jul 11 – Jul 22 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Mar 11 – Apr 8 |
| Cabbage | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Apr 8 – May 9 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors (fall) | Jun 1 – Jul 1 |
| Cabbage | Transplant outdoors (fall) | Jul 1 – Aug 1 |
| Leaf lettuce | Sow outdoors (spring) | Apr 8 – Jun 24 |
| Leaf lettuce | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jul 1 – Aug 17 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors (spring) | Apr 1 – May 15 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jul 18 – Aug 22 |
| Radishes | Sow outdoors (spring) | Apr 8 – May 29 |
| Radishes | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jul 1 – Sep 1 |
| Kale | Sow outdoors (spring) | Apr 25 – May 15 |
| Kale | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jun 24 – Aug 1 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors (spring) | May 9 – Jun 24 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jun 1 – Jul 17 |
| Garlic | Plant outdoors (fall) | Oct 1 – Nov 1 |
Where these dates come from
ZIP code 87044 is matched to the NOAA station Jemez Springs, NM, 13.3 km away, at 6,262 ft elevation (252 ft higher than the ZIP code's center). Nearby stations for comparison:
| Station | Elevation | Avg last frost | Avg first frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jemez Springs, NM (used) | 6,262 ft | May 9 | Oct 11 |
| Los Alamos 13 W, NM | 8,716 ft | Jun 10 | Sep 13 |
| Cochiti Dam, NM | 5,560 ft | Apr 26 | Oct 21 |
| Jemez Dam, NM | 5,388 ft | Apr 17 | Oct 24 |
Frost dates near Ponderosa
- Jemez Pueblo, NM 87024 · last Apr 26, first Oct 21
- San Ysidro, NM 87053 · last Apr 17, first Oct 24
- Jemez Springs, NM 87025 · last Jun 19, first Sep 13
- Cochiti Pueblo, NM 87072 · last Apr 26, first Oct 21
- Cochiti Lake, NM 87083 · last Apr 26, first Oct 21
- Pena Blanca, NM 87041 · last Apr 26, first Oct 21
- Santo Domingo Pueblo, NM 87052 · last Apr 26, first Oct 21
- Rio Rancho, NM 87144 · last Apr 17, first Oct 24
Frequently asked questions
- When is the last frost in Ponderosa, NM?
- For ZIP code 87044, the average last spring frost (32°F) is May 9, based on NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for the Jemez Springs, NM weather station. There is a 1-in-10 chance of a frost after May 23.
- When is the first frost in Ponderosa, NM?
- The average first fall frost (32°F) is October 11. There is a 1-in-10 chance of frost by September 28, so tender plants are at risk from that point on.
- How long is the growing season in 87044?
- In half of years, the frost-free season (between the last and first 32°F frost) is at least 153 days long.
- Are these frost dates a forecast?
- No. They are 30-year averages and probabilities from NOAA weather station records. Use them to plan, then watch your local forecast before planting tender crops or leaving them uncovered.