Frost Dates for Los Alamos, NM 87544
Last spring frost May 11 · First fall frost October 8 · 150 frost-free days · USDA Zone 7a
ZIP 87544 has about 13,600 people.
Moderate season: 150 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 24–May 28 (34 days). Fall frost risk spans September 24–October 23 (29 days).
Frost probability for 87544
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 28 | May 11 | April 24 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 24 | October 8 | October 23 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at LOS ALAMOS (8.6 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 150-day season in Los Alamos
In Los Alamos (150 frost-free days, a moderate season), 34 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 21 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 6 | May 25–Jun 1 | 108 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 108 available after May 25. | Jun 8 |
| Pepper | Mar 30 | May 25–Jun 1 | 108 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 108 available after May 25. | Jun 13 |
| Lettuce | Mar 16 | Apr 13–Apr 20 | 185 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 17; both mature before Oct 15. | Aug 17 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 20–Apr 27 | 192 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 192 available after Apr 20. | Aug 6 |
| Cucumber | Apr 20 | May 25–Jun 1 | 122 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 122 available after May 25. | Jul 12 |
| Beans | — | May 18–Jun 1 | 136 | two-plantings: Plant May 18 and again by Jul 19; both mature before Oct 1. | Jul 19 |
| Peas | — | Mar 16–May 25 | 213 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 213 available after Mar 16. | Jul 28 |
| Zucchini | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 122 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 122 available after May 25. | Jul 17 |
| Onion | Feb 16 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 185 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 185 available after Apr 13. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 16–May 4 | 227 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 16 and again by Sep 5; both mature before Oct 29. | Sep 5 |
| Kale | Mar 2 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 199 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 21; both mature before Oct 29. | Aug 21 |
| Broccoli | Mar 16 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 185 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 185 available after Apr 13. | Jul 13 |
| Cabbage | Mar 16 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 199 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 199 available after Apr 13. | Aug 6 |
| Radish | — | Mar 16–Jun 8 | 213 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 16 and again by Sep 6; both mature before Oct 15. | Sep 6 |
| Beets | — | Mar 16–Jun 8 | 213 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 16 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 15. | Aug 7 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 27–May 4 | 171 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 171 available after Apr 27. | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 8 | 255 | overwinter: Plant Oct 8 to Oct 29; harvest the following summer. | Oct 29 |
| Strawberry | — | Apr 6–Jun 1 | 206 | perennial: A perennial: plant Apr 6; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 13 | May 18–May 25 | 122 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 122 available after May 18. | Jun 20 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 27 | May 25–May 25 | 115 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 115 available after May 25. | May 26 |
| Cauliflower | Mar 30 | May 4–May 18 | 164 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 164 available after May 4. | Jul 18 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 16 | Apr 27–Apr 27 | 171 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 27 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 15. | Aug 7 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 16–Jun 8 | 227 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 16 and again by Sep 5; both mature before Oct 29. | Sep 5 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 16 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 199 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 199 available after Apr 13. | Jul 7 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 115 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 115 available after May 25. | May 26 |
| Eggplant | Mar 23 | May 25–Jun 1 | 108 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 108 available after May 25. | Jun 18 |
| Okra | Apr 13 | May 18–May 25 | 129 | two-plantings: Plant May 18 and again by Jul 17; both mature before Sep 24. | Jul 17 |
| Basil | Apr 6 | Jun 1–Jun 1 | 115 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 115 available after Jun 1. | Jul 12 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 13–May 4 | 185 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 15. | Aug 12 |
| Parsley | Mar 2 | May 18–May 25 | 150 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 150 available after May 18. | Jul 23 |
| Celery | Mar 2 | May 18–Jun 1 | 150 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 150 available after May 18. | Jun 3 |
| Scallions | Mar 2 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 199 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 29. | Aug 16 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 199 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 26; both mature before Oct 29. | Aug 26 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 30–Apr 13 | 213 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 30 and again by Aug 21; both mature before Oct 29. | Aug 21 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 13 | May 4–May 11 | 164 | two-plantings: Plant May 4 and again by Aug 17; both mature before Oct 15. | Aug 17 |
| Collards | Mar 2 | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 199 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 29. | Aug 16 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 108 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 108 available after May 25. | Jun 3 |
| Chives | Feb 16 | May 18–May 25 | 164 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 164 available after May 18. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 16–Jun 8 | 213 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 16 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 15. | Aug 7 |
| Oregano | Mar 2 | May 18–May 25 | 164 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 164 available after May 18. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 16 | May 18–May 25 | 150 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 150 available after May 18. | — |
| Sage | Mar 16 | May 18–May 25 | 164 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 164 available after May 18. | — |
| Thyme | Mar 2 | May 18–May 25 | 164 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 164 available after May 18. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 30 | Apr 27–May 11 | 171 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 27 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 15. | Aug 12 |
| Cosmos | Apr 13 | May 11–May 25 | 136 | two-plantings: Plant May 11 and again by Jul 12; both mature before Sep 24. | Jul 12 |
| Lavender | Feb 16 | May 11–May 25 | 171 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 171 available after May 11. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 30 | May 11–May 18 | 136 | two-plantings: Plant May 11 and again by Jul 22; both mature before Sep 24. | Jul 22 |
| Melons | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 108 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 108 available after May 25. | Jun 3 |
| Mint | — | May 11–May 25 | 171 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 171 available after May 11. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 13 | May 11–May 18 | 136 | two-plantings: Plant May 11 and again by Jul 17; both mature before Sep 24. | Jul 17 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 18–Jun 1 | 129 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 129 available after May 18. | Jul 7 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 115 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 115 available after May 25. | Jun 5 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 11–May 25 | 136 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 136 available after May 11. | Jul 2 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 16 | May 18–May 25 | 115 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 115 available after May 18. | Jun 13 |
| Watermelon | Apr 27 | May 18–May 25 | 115 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 115 available after May 18. | Jun 8 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 122 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 122 available after May 25. | Jul 17 |
| Zinnias | Apr 13 | May 11–May 25 | 136 | two-plantings: Plant May 11 and again by Jul 12; both mature before Sep 24. | Jul 12 |
Month by month in Los Alamos
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 16), Lavender (Feb 16), Onion (Feb 16), Rosemary (Feb 16). |
| March | Start indoors: Celery (Mar 2), Collards (Mar 2), Kale (Mar 2), Oregano (Mar 2), Parsley (Mar 2), Scallions (Mar 2), +13 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 16), Beets (Mar 16), Dill (Mar 16), Peas (Mar 16), Radish (Mar 16), Spinach (Mar 16), +1 more. |
| April | Start indoors: Basil (Apr 6), Tomato (Apr 6), Bok Choy (Apr 13), Corn (Apr 13), Cosmos (Apr 13), Nasturtiums (Apr 13), +11 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 13), Turnip (Apr 13), Carrots (Apr 20), Potatoes (Apr 27). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 13), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 13), Cabbage (Apr 13), Collards (Apr 13), Kale (Apr 13), Lettuce (Apr 13), +4 more. Plant: Strawberry (Apr 6). |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 11), Beans (May 18), Pole Beans (May 18). Transplant from: Bok Choy (May 4), Cauliflower (May 4), Cosmos (May 11), Lavender (May 11), Marigolds (May 11), Mint (May 11), +24 more. Last frost around May 11. Last sowing dates: Butternut Squash (May 26), Pumpkin (May 26). |
| June | Transplant from: Basil (Jun 1). Last sowing dates: Cantaloupe (Jun 3), Celery (Jun 3), Melons (Jun 3), Spaghetti Squash (Jun 5), Tomato (Jun 8), Watermelon (Jun 8), +4 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Sunflowers (Jul 2), Brussel Sprouts (Jul 7), Pole Beans (Jul 7), Basil (Jul 12), Cosmos (Jul 12), Cucumber (Jul 12), +11 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Cabbage (Aug 6), Carrots (Aug 6), Beets (Aug 7), Dill (Aug 7), Swiss Chard (Aug 7), Calendula (Aug 12), +8 more. |
| September | Last sowing dates: Arugula (Sep 5), Spinach (Sep 5), Radish (Sep 6). |
| October | Direct sow from: Garlic (Oct 8). First frost around October 8. Last sowing dates: Garlic (Oct 29). |
| November | Harvest remaining cold-hardy crops: kale, carrots, and beets. Plant garlic bulbs for next year. |
| December | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last frost date for Los Alamos, NM (ZIP 87544)?
The median last spring frost date for Los Alamos, NM (ZIP code 87544) is around May 11. This is the 50th-percentile date — meaning half of all years see frost end before this date. Use the 10% and 90% dates to understand the full range of risk in your area. One year in ten frost ends before April 24; one in ten it runs past May 28.
What is the first fall frost date in Los Alamos, NM?
The median first fall frost date for Los Alamos, NM is around October 8. Plan to harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops like tomatoes and peppers at least a week before this date to avoid losses. The first frost arrives around September 24 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Los Alamos, NM?
The frost-free growing season in Los Alamos is about 150 days. This window — from your last spring frost to your first fall frost — is when warm-season vegetables thrive. Cold-hardy crops like kale, spinach, and peas can extend your season by weeks on either side. In Los Alamos (150 frost-free days, a moderate season), 34 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 21 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Los Alamos, NM?
Los Alamos, NM is in USDA hardiness zone 7a (2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map). Zones come from the average coldest winter temperature, so they tell you which perennials survive the winter; the frost dates on this page tell you when to plant.
When should I start tomatoes indoors in Los Alamos, NM?
Start tomatoes indoors Apr 6 and plant out May 25 in Los Alamos. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Los Alamos?
Two: plant Apr 13 and again by Aug 17; both mature before Oct 15.
When do I plant garlic in Los Alamos?
Oct 8 to Oct 29; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
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