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Seed Starting Calendar for New Mexico

Median last frost from Mar 25 to Jun 9 across New Mexico

NOAA stations
172
Median last frost, Albuquerque
Apr 6
Passed in 9 of 10 years
Apr 23
Last frost

Last spring frost dates in New Mexico

Las Cruces in the Mesilla Valley reaches its median last frost around Mar 12, Roswell around Mar 29, Albuquerque around Apr 6, and Santa Fe, above 6,300 feet, around May 4.

Three dates per station from the NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals. The median is the date half of springs run past. The last column is the date the last 32°F night has passed by in 9 years out of 10, the one to hold tender transplants for.

StationElevationEarly (1 in 10 years later than this)Median last frostPassed in 9 of 10 yearsMedian first fall frost
Las CrucesState University, USC002985353,886 ftFeb 23Mar 12Apr 2Nov 13
Roswell Ind Air ParkRoswell Ind Air Park, USW000230093,649 ftMar 8Mar 29Apr 15Nov 7
AlbuquerqueAlbuquerque Intl Airport, USW000230505,310 ftMar 17Apr 6Apr 23Nov 3
Clayton Municipal Air ParkClayton Municipal Air Park, USW000230514,960 ftApr 14Apr 27May 10Oct 17
Santa FeSanta Fe County Municipal Airport, USW000230496,344 ftApr 22May 4May 17Oct 15
Crop chart

When to start seeds in New Mexico, spring 2027

Counted back from the median last frost at Albuquerque, April 6. Pick another station to redraw the chart for it.

Seed starting calendar for Albuquerque, New Mexico, spring 2027DecJanFebMarAprOnion (from seed)Onion (from seed): start indoors Dec 29 to Jan 12Onion (from seed): harden off Feb 23 to Mar 9Onion (from seed): set out Mar 9 to Mar 16PepperPepper: start indoors Feb 9 to Feb 23Pepper: harden off Apr 6 to Apr 20Pepper: set out Apr 20 to Apr 27EggplantEggplant: start indoors Feb 9 to Feb 23Eggplant: harden off Apr 6 to Apr 20Eggplant: set out Apr 20 to Apr 27TomatoTomato: start indoors Feb 16 to Mar 2Tomato: harden off Mar 30 to Apr 13Tomato: set out Apr 13 to Apr 20BroccoliBroccoli: start indoors Jan 26 to Feb 9Broccoli: harden off Feb 23 to Mar 9Broccoli: set out Mar 9 to Mar 23CabbageCabbage: start indoors Jan 26 to Feb 9Cabbage: harden off Feb 23 to Mar 9Cabbage: set out Mar 9 to Mar 16LettuceLettuce: start indoors Feb 2 to Feb 9Lettuce: harden off Feb 23 to Mar 9Lettuce: set out Mar 9 to Mar 16BasilBasil: start indoors Feb 23 to Mar 9Basil: harden off Apr 6 to Apr 20Basil: set out Apr 20 to Apr 27CucumberCucumber: start indoors Mar 16 to Mar 23Cucumber: harden off Mar 30 to Apr 13Cucumber: set out Apr 13 to Apr 20Cucumber: sow outdoors Apr 6 to Apr 13Summer squashSummer squash: start indoors Mar 23 to Mar 30Summer squash: harden off Apr 6 to Apr 20Summer squash: set out Apr 20 to Apr 27Summer squash: sow outdoors Apr 6 to Apr 13PeasPeas: sow outdoors Mar 9 to Mar 23CarrotCarrot: sow outdoors Mar 23 to Apr 6BeansBeans: sow outdoors Apr 6 to Apr 13Sweet cornSweet corn: sow outdoors Apr 6 to Apr 13Median last frost Apr 69 in 10 years Apr 23
Start indoorsHarden offSet outSow outdoorsMedian last frostLast freeze passed in 9 of 10 years
Every crop, counted from a median last frost of April 6
CropStart indoorsSet outSow outdoorsFrost class
TomatoFeb 16 to Mar 2Apr 13 to Apr 20Tender, very tender
PepperFeb 9 to Feb 23Apr 20 to Apr 27Tender, very tender
EggplantFeb 9 to Feb 23Apr 20 to Apr 27Tender, very tender
BasilFeb 23 to Mar 9Apr 20 to Apr 27Tender
CeleryJan 12 to Jan 26Apr 6 to Apr 13Tender
CucumberMar 16 to Mar 23Apr 13 to Apr 20Apr 6 to Apr 13Tender
Summer squashMar 23 to Mar 30Apr 20 to Apr 27Apr 6 to Apr 13Tender
Winter squashMar 23 to Mar 30Apr 20 to Apr 27Apr 20 to Apr 27Tender, very tender
PumpkinMar 23 to Mar 30Apr 20 to Apr 27Apr 20 to Apr 27Tender, very tender
Melon (cantaloupe)Mar 23 to Mar 30Apr 20 to Apr 27Tender, very tender
WatermelonMar 16 to Mar 30Apr 20 to Apr 27Tender, very tender
Onion (from seed)Dec 29 to Jan 12Mar 9 to Mar 16Hardy
LeekDec 29 to Jan 12Mar 9 to Mar 16Hardy
ParsleyJan 5 to Jan 12Mar 16 to Mar 23Half-hardy
BroccoliJan 26 to Feb 9Mar 9 to Mar 23Hardy
Brussels sproutsJan 26 to Feb 9Mar 9 to Mar 23Hardy
CabbageJan 26 to Feb 9Mar 9 to Mar 16Hardy
CauliflowerFeb 9 to Feb 23Mar 23 to Mar 30Half-hardy
KaleJan 26 to Feb 9Mar 9 to Mar 16Hardy
LettuceFeb 2 to Feb 9Mar 9 to Mar 16Hardy
Swiss chardFeb 9 to Feb 23Mar 23 to Mar 30Mar 9 to Mar 16Half-hardy
SpinachJan 12 to Jan 26Feb 23 to Mar 16Mar 9 to Mar 23Hardy
PeasMar 9 to Mar 23Hardy
RadishMar 9 to Mar 23Hardy
CarrotMar 23 to Apr 6Half-hardy
BeetMar 23 to Apr 6Half-hardy
BeansApr 6 to Apr 13Tender
Sweet cornApr 6 to Apr 13Tender
Six square pots of dark compost seen from above, each holding a single seedling with two narrow seed leaves
Tomato seedlings at the seed leaf stage, one to a pot. The University of Minnesota Extension holds off on fertilizer until a seedling has several sets of true leaves, then feeds at quarter strength once a week. “Tomato Seedlings (49768696597)” by Amanda Slater from Coventry, West Midlands, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
Extension guide

What New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service advises

New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service publishes the planting guide New Mexico gardeners work from, Home Vegetable Gardening in New Mexico (Circular 457).

“Half-hardy: Plant these near the average date of the last killing frost, or plant in summer for the fall garden.”
New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service, Home Vegetable Gardening in New Mexico, quoted exactly.
“Start transplants six to eight weeks before setting them in the garden.”
New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service, Home Vegetable Gardening in New Mexico (Circular 457), transplant section, quoted exactly.
“To grow your own transplants, start them at least 8-10 weeks before planting them in the garden.”
New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service, on tomato, quoted exactly.
“Direct seed peppers at about the average date of the last killing frost or transplant them into the garden after the risk of frost has passed.”
New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service, on pepper, quoted exactly.
“In New Mexico, peas do not do well once warm weather arrives, so plant them in the spring as soon as the soil can be worked.”
New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service, on peas, quoted exactly.
“Hardy: Plant these as soon as the ground can be worked in the spring, or plant in summer for the fall garden.”
New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service, on broccoli, quoted exactly.
A gardener kneeling beside a raised bed setting a young tomato plant into dark soil, an empty nursery pot beside her
Setting out a tomato in June at a community garden. Tender crops go out after the last frost, and after a week or two of hardening off outdoors. “Volunteer planting heirloom tomato (4704185147)”, Pacific Southwest Region 5, Public domain

Seed starting questions for New Mexico

Frost dates from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, annual/seasonal, by station (v1.0.1). Planting guidance from New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service, quoted exactly. Seed starting weeks from UNH Cooperative Extension. Compiled 2026-09-21.

First frost in New MexicoThe other end of the season: when fall frost ends the tender crops.Soil temperatureBeans, corn and squash sown direct wait on warm soil as well as the last frost.New Mexico lawn care calendarSpring seeding, feeding and mowing dates on the same climate.Fall planting calendarGarlic, cool season crops and a second sowing window in the fall.Frost dates by ZIPFirst and last frost odds for any address.

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