When to plant asparagus in Albuquerque, New Mexico

February 23 – March 9

Transplant outdoors · typical Albuquerque year

Climate basis: NOAA station Albuquerque INTL AP, NM (USW00023050), 3 mi (5 km) from downtown Albuquerque (ZCTA 87102 centroid), elevation 5310 ft, on the 1991–2020 climate normals. Plant asparagus crowns from approximately the dates above, anchored to the median last spring 32°F freeze (April 6). One year in ten still freezes after April 23.

Last spring freezeApril 61-in-10 after Apr 23
First fall freezeNovember 31-in-10 before Oct 21
Frost-free season208 daysmedian at 32°F
Hard freeze, 28°Mar 17Nov 15kills even hardy greens
USDA zone7b5 to 10°F winter low not frost timing

The Albuquerque year

Transplant outdoorsFeb 23 – Mar 9
  • indoors under lights
  • in the garden
  • frost-free season
  • 1-in-10 years still freeze to Apr 23
Asparagus in Albuquerque · freeze context from Albuquerque INTL AP, NM, 1991–2020 normals.

Every method, with its sources

Transplant outdoors

Feb 23 – Mar 9

Purdue: hardy — plant crowns 4–6 weeks before the last spring frost. Anchored to the median last spring freeze (Apr 6). Purdue University Extension

Start seeds indoors

Not calculated

The cited extension guides do not time an indoor seed-starting window for this crop.

Direct-sow outdoors

Not calculated

Home plantings start from 1-year crowns; seed-started asparagus adds a year and is not timed by the cited guide.

Fall planting

Not calculated

No source-backed fall planting rule exists for this crop in the registry, so no fall window is calculated.

Variety assumption: A long-lived perennial; do not harvest the planting year, lightly the second year, fully from the third.

These windows describe typical years (1991–2020 climate normals), not this year's forecast. Freezes happen outside them — especially in frost pockets, valleys, and urban edges. Watch the forecast before committing tender plants.

This week, not a typical year:
Crop rule sources (1)

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