When to plant in Chaparral, NM
USDA Zone 8bChaparral, New Mexico frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
With about 265 frost-free days, Chaparral supports back-to-back plantings; stagger sowings every few weeks to keep beds productive spring through fall. Heads up: the nearest complete-normals station is about 19 km from Chaparral, so your yard's frost dates can differ — a low spot or a paved city center can shift them by a week. In zone 8b, Chaparral supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.
The average last spring frost in Chaparral is now 10 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
LA TUNA 1 S · 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 Chaparral’s own odds, recorded at LA TUNA 1 S.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 8 | Mar 16 | Feb 28 | Oct 28 | Nov 10 | Nov 23 |
| 32°F | Mar 17 | Feb 28 | Feb 7 | Nov 5 | Nov 20 | Dec 3 |
| 28°F | Mar 4 | Feb 10 | Jan 19 | Nov 17 | Dec 1 | Dec 18 |
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 Chaparral, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 34 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.
Chaparral planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Chaparral, NM?
On average, the last spring frost in Chaparral is around February 28 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.
When is the first fall frost in Chaparral, NM?
In Chaparral, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around November 20 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Chaparral in?
Chaparral is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. In zone 8b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Chaparral?
Chaparral has about 265 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (February 28) and first fall frost (November 20).
When should I plant tomatoes in Chaparral?
For Chaparral, sow tomatoes indoors about January 3–January 17 and move the seedlings out around March 7, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Chaparral
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Chaparral’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- El Paso · 22 km
- Fort Bliss · 23 km
- Sunland Park · 31 km
- Horizon City · 45 km
- Socorro · 47 km
- Las Cruces · 48 km
- San Elizario · 54 km
- Alamogordo · 102 km
Frost dates recorded at LA TUNA 1 S, 19 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 Chaparral, NM — Frost Dates & Zone 8b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00414931. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/new-mexico/chaparral.