When to plant in Carlsbad, NM
USDA Zone 8aCarlsbad, New Mexico frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Zone 8a means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Carlsbad, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
The average last spring frost in Carlsbad is now 14 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
CARLSBAD · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Carlsbad’s own odds, recorded at CARLSBAD.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 21 | Apr 3 | Mar 15 | Oct 22 | Nov 3 | Nov 15 |
| 32°F | Apr 5 | Mar 17 | Feb 28 | Oct 29 | Nov 12 | Nov 26 |
| 28°F | Mar 22 | Mar 2 | Feb 10 | Nov 7 | Nov 23 | Dec 7 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Carlsbad, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 18 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Carlsbad planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Carlsbad, NM?
Plan for the last spring frost in Carlsbad around March 17 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Carlsbad, NM?
Expect Carlsbad's first fall frost near November 12 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Carlsbad in?
Carlsbad is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. In zone 8a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Carlsbad?
There are roughly 240 frost-free days in Carlsbad (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around March 17 to the first fall frost near November 12.
When should I plant tomatoes in Carlsbad?
In Carlsbad, start tomato seeds indoors around January 20–February 3, then transplant seedlings outdoors around March 24 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Carlsbad
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Carlsbad’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Artesia · 53 km
- Lovington · 103 km
- Hobbs · 108 km
- Roswell · 111 km
- Town of Pecos · 131 km
- Andrews · 159 km
- Alamogordo · 170 km
- West Odessa · 175 km
Frost dates recorded at CARLSBAD, 6 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Carlsbad, NM — Frost Dates & Zone 8a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00291469. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/new-mexico/carlsbad.