Growing Zones, Recommended Crop Varieties, and Planting and Harvesting Information for Home Vegetable Gardens in New Mexico

Circular 457-B

Revised by Stephanie Walker

College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, New Mexico State University

Extension Vegetable Specialist/Assistant Professor, Department of Extension Plant Sciences, New Mexico State University. (Print Friendly PDF)

New Mexico can be divided into three growing zones, which are based on the average number of frost-free days and the average date for the last frost in the spring (Figure 1). Growing periods for individual gardens can vary as much as 20 days from the zone’s average. This variance may be due to elevation, site exposure, or air drainage. For example, gardens with northern slope exposures are cooler than those with southern slope exposures. Also, cooler air is heavier than warmer air, so gardens in valleys are more prone to frost than gardens overlooking the valley. Therefore, consider your garden’s unique needs as you determine planting dates. Table 1 provides recommended planting dates for New Mexico’s three growing zones.

Figure 01: Map showing New Mexico growing zones, average number of frost-free days, and average date of last frost.

Figure 1. New Mexico growing zones, average number of frost-free days, and average date of last frost. Adapted from Climatological Data, Annual Summary–New Mexico 1982, National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.


Crop variety recommendations in this guide are based on variety trials conducted by the New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service (http://aces.nmsu.edu/county/) and experienced Master Gardeners (http://aces.nmsu.edu/ces/mastergardeners/programs.html). Home gardeners can seek advice from these or other experienced gardeners in the area.

Table 1. Recommended Planting Dates for Various Crops

New Mexico AREA 1

Vegetable Planting Chart

Crop

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Asparagus

Beans (bush, wax)

Beans (pole)

Beans (pinto)

Beans (lima)

Beans (fava, garbanzo)

Beets

Broccoli

Cabbage

Cabbage (Chinese)

Carrots

Cauliflower

Chard (Swiss)

Collards

Corn (sweet)

Cowpeas

Cucumber

Eggplant

Garlic

Kale

Kohlrabi

Lettuce (leaf)

Melons (cantaloupe, musk)

Okra

Onions

Peas

Peppers (chile, bell)

Potato

Potato (sweet)

Pumpkin

Radish

Spinach

Squash (summer)

Squash (winter)

Tomatoes

Turnips

Watermelon

Optimal window for planting seed or transplants outside.

Start transplants inside.


New Mexico AREA 2

Vegetable Planting Chart

Crop

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Asparagus

Beans (bush, wax)

Beans (pole)

Beans (pinto)

Beans (lima)

Beans (fava, garbanzo)

Beets

Broccoli

Cabbage

Cabbage (Chinese)

Carrots

Cauliflower

Chard (Swiss)

Collards

Corn (sweet)

Cowpeas

Cucumber

Eggplant

Garlic

Kale

Kohlrabi

Lettuce (leaf)

Melons (cantaloupe, musk)

Okra

Onions

Peas

Peppers (chile, bell)

Potato

Potato (sweet)

Pumpkin

Radish

Spinach

Squash (summer)

Squash (winter)

Tomatoes

Turnips

Watermelon

Optimal window for planting seed or transplants outside.

Start transplants inside.


New Mexico AREA 3

Vegetable Planting Chart

Crop

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Asparagus

Beans (bush, wax)

Beans (pole)

Beans (pinto)

Beans (lima)

Beans (fava, garbanzo)

Beets

Broccoli

Cabbage

Cabbage (Chinese)

Carrots

Cauliflower

Chard (Swiss)

Collards

Corn (sweet)

Cowpeas

Cucumber

Eggplant

Garlic

Kale

Kohlrabi

Lettuce (leaf)

Melons (cantaloupe, musk)

Okra

Onions

Peas

Peppers (chile, bell)

Potato

Potato (sweet)

Pumpkin

Radish

Spinach

Squash (summer)

Squash (winter)

Tomatoes

Turnips

Watermelon

Optimal window for planting seed or transplants outside.

Start transplants inside.


The number of days to harvest are seed catalog estimates and may vary depending on weather conditions. Planting depth will depend on your soil; seed can be planted slightly deeper in sandy soils and slightly shallower in clay soils. The distance between rows depends on your watering technique (furrow, sprinkler, or drip) and the paths you leave between rows for picking. See Table 2 for more information.

Refer to Circular 457, Home Vegetable Gardening in New Mexico (http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_circulars/CR457/welcome.html), for more information on gardening in New Mexico.

Table 2. Vegetable Varieties, Days to Harvest, Planting Date, Planting Instructions, and Approximate Yield for Home Gardens

Crop

Recommended Varieties

Days to Harvest

Planting Dates

How to Plant

Feet of Row per Person

Seed or Plants per 100 Feet of Row

Approximate Yield per 100 Feet of Row

Area 1

Area 2

Area 3

 

Distance Between

Fresh (lb)

Canned (pints)

Depth (in.)

Plants (in.)

Rows (in.)

Asparagus

Jersey Giant

2 years

Feb 1–
March 1

March 1–
April 30

April 1–30

6–8

12–15

36–60

30

80–100 plants

60

25

Mary Washington

U.C. 157

Jersey Knight

Beans, bush

Blue Lake 47 Bush

58

April 15–
May 1;
July 15–
Aug 15

May 1–31;
July 1–31

May 1–
July 15

1–2

2–6

18–36

80

1/2 lb

90

65

Contender

49

Blue Lake 274

58

Kentucky Wonder 125

58

Topcrop

49

Beans, bush (wax)

Imperial Golden Wax

52

April 15–
May 1;
July 15–
Aug 15

May 1–31; July 1–31

May 1–
July 15

1–2

2–6

18–36

80

1/2 lb

90

65

Gold Mine

55

Beans, pole

Blue Lake

60

April 15–
May 1

May 1–31

May 1–
June 30

1–2

4–8

36–48

10

1/2 lb

90

80

Kentucky Blue

65

Kentucky Wonder

65

Beans, lima

Fordhook 242

75

April 15–
Aug 1

May 1–
July 15

May 15–
June 15

1–2

3–6

18–36

20

1 lb

30

40

Baby Fordhook

70

Henderson Bush

65

Jackson Wonder

65

Crop

Recommended Varieties

Days to Harvest

Planting Dates

How to Plant

Feet of Row per Person

Seed or Plants per 100 Feet of Row

Approximate Yield per 100 Feet of Row

Area 1

Area 2

Area 3

 

Distance Between

Fresh (lb)

Canned (pints)

Depth (in.)

Plants (in.)

Rows (in.)

Beans, lima, pole

Large Speckled Christmas

88

April 15–

May 1

May 1–31

May 1–15

1–2

8–12

36–48

20

1/2 lb

30

40

King of Garden

88

Beans, other

Fava or broadbeans

85

Jan 15–

Feb 15

Feb 15–

March 15

March 15–

May 15

1–2

3–6

24–48

20

1 lb

30

40

Garbanzo or chickpea

100

Feb 15–

April 15

May 15–

June 15

Pinto

85

April 15–
May 1; July 15– Aug 15

May 1–31

May 1–

July 15

1–2

3–4

24–30

–

1/2 lb

–

–

Beets

Detroit Dark Red

60

Feb 1–

March 15;

July 15–

Aug 15

March 1–

April 15;

July 15–

Aug 1

April 1–

June 30

1/2

2–4

12–30

10

1 oz

80

70

Early Wonder

54

Golden Beet

55

Cylindra

60

Ruby Queen

53

Perfected Detroit

58

Broccoli

Bonanza Hybrid

55

Feb 15–

March 1;

July 15–

Aug 1

March 15–

April 1;

July 1–15

April 15–

June 1

1/2

8–12

26–36

25

1/2 oz or
100–150 plants

75

–

Green Goliath

55

Sun King Hybrid

71

Green Magic

57

Marathon

68

Premium Crop

58

Hybrid Packman

60

Crop

Recommended Varieties

Days to Harvest

Planting Dates

How to Plant

Feet of Row per Person

Seed or Plants per 100 Feet of Row

Approximate Yield per 100 Feet of Row

Area 1

Area 2

Area 3

 

Distance Between

Fresh (lb)

Canned (pints)

Depth (in.)

Plants (in.)

Rows (in.)

Brussels sprouts

Hybrid Jade Cross

82

March 15–

May 15

April 1–

May 15

April 15–30

1/2

18–24

24–40

10

1/2 oz or
50–65 plants

60

–

Dimitri Hybrid

105

Cabbage

Golden Acre

64

Feb 15–

March 1;

July 15–

Aug 1

March 15–31;

July 1–15

April 15–

June 30

1/2

12–24

24–36

6

1/2 oz or
50–100 plants

150

–

Red Acre

76

Early Jersey Wakefield

63

Cabbage, Chinese

Michihili

70

March 1–31;

July 1–20

June 15–30

May 15–

June 15

1/2

12–24

24–36

10

1/2 oz or
50–100 plants

30

–

Pak Choi Joi Choi Hybrid

45

Cantaloupe (muskmelon)

Delicious 51

84

April 1–15

April 15–30

May 1–15

1/2–3/4

12

60–84

15

1 oz

90 melons

–

Hales Best

88

Amborsia Hybrid

86

Carrots

Imperator

75

Jan 15–

March 1;

Aug 1–15

Feb 15–

April 1;

July 1–

Aug 1

May 1–

June 30

1/4

1–3

16–36

30

1/2 oz

75

–

Red Core Chantenay

70

Danvers Half Long

75

Nantes Coreless

68

Cauliflower

Snowball (types)

65

Feb 15–

March 1;

June 25–

July 5

March 15–31;

July 1–

Aug 1

May 1–30

1/2

18–24

24–36

20

1/2 oz or 50–65 plants

50 heads

–

Snow Crown Hybrid

53

Crop

Recommended Varieties

Days to Harvest

Planting Dates

How to Plant

Feet of Row per Person

Seed or Plants per 100 Feet of Row

Approximate Yield per 100 Feet of Row

Area 1

Area 2

Area 3

 

Distance Between

Fresh (lb)

Canned (pints)

Depth (in.)

Plants (in.)

Rows (in.)

Cauliflower

Snowball Self-Blanching

70

Feb 15–

March 1;

June 25–

July 5

March 15–31;

July 1–Aug 1

May 1–30

1/2

18–24

24–36

20

1/2 oz or 50–65 plants

50 heads

–

Graffiti (purple)

80

Chard, Swiss

Fordhook Giant

60

Feb 1–

March 15;

July 15–

Aug 15

March 1–

April 15;

July 1–

Aug 1

April 1–

June 30

1/2–3/4

4–15

24–36

10

1 oz

100

–

Rhubarb

60

Lucullus Light Green

60

Bright Lights

55

Collards

Georgia

80

Feb 1–

March 15;

July 15–

Aug 15

March 1–

April 15;

July 15–

Aug 1

April 1–

June 30

1/2

10–24

24–36

–

1/2 oz

–

–

Vates

80

Corn, sweet (regular, SU)

Merit

75

March 21–

July 30

April 20–

July 1

May 1–

July 1

1–2

8–12

30–40

120

1/2 lb

75 ears

20

Early Sunglow

63

Golden Jubilee

84

Iochief

89

Silver Queen (white)

94

Golden Cross Bantam

85

Corn, sweet (sugary enhancer, SE)

Kandy Korn SE

89

March 21–

July 30

April 20–

July 1

May 1–

July 1

1–2

8–12

30–40

120

1/2 lb

75 ears

20

Hybrid Double Delicious

83

Hybrid Bodacious

72

Miracle

82

Crop

Recommended Varieties

Days to Harvest

Planting Dates

How to Plant

Feet of Row per Person

Seed or Plants per 100 Feet of Row

Approximate Yield per 100 Feet of Row

Area 1

Area 2

Area 3

 

Distance Between

Fresh (lb)

Canned (pints)

Depth (in.)

Plants (in.)

Rows (in.)

Corn, sweet (super sweet, SH2)

Early Xtra-Sweet

71

April 1–

July 30

May 1–

July 1

May 15–

July 1

1/2–1

8–12

30–40

120

1/2 lb

75 ears

20

Illini Xtra-Sweet

85

How Sweet It Is

87

Honey 'N Pearl

78

Cucumber, slicing

Armenian (long, ribbed)

70

April 1–15

April 15–

May 15

May 15–

June 1

1/2–3/4

8–12

36–72

5

1/2 oz

180

–

Bush Champion

55

Slicemaster

58

Hybrid Burpless

60

Spacemaster (bush)

54

Straight Eight

58

Streamliner

58

Sweet Success Hybrid

58

Sweet Slice Hybrid

62

Cucumber, pickling

National Pickling

55

April 1–15

April 15–

May 15

May 15–

June 1

1/2–3/4

8–12

36–72

5

1/2 oz

90

25

West India Gherkin

60

Eggplant

Black Beauty

73

April 1–30

April 15–

May 15

May 1–30

1/4–1/2

18–30

24–48

5

1/4 oz

200

–

Dusky

63

Crop

Recommended Varieties

Days to Harvest

Planting Dates

How to Plant

Feet of Row per Person

Seed or Plants per 100 Feet of Row

Approximate Yield per 100 Feet of Row

Area 1

Area 2

Area 3

 

Distance Between

Fresh (lb)

Canned (pints)

Depth (in.)

Plants (in.)

Rows (in.)

Eggplant

Easter Egg

69

April 1–30

April 15–

May 15

May 1–30

1/4–1/2

18–30

24–48

5

1/4 oz

200

–

Orient Express

58

Ichiban Hybrid

65

Garlic, hardneck

Spanish Roja

8–10 months

Oct 1–

Nov 30

Sept 15–

Nov 15

Sept 1–

Oct 31

1–3

3–6

12–36

3

1–12 lb of cloves

–

–

Carpathian

Garlic, softneck

Inchelium Red

8–10 months

Oct 1–

Nov 30

Sept 15–

Nov 15

Sept 1–

Oct 31

1–3

3–6

12–36

3

1–12 lb of cloves

–

–

California Early

Silverskin (S & H)

Kohlrabi

Early Purple Vienna

60

Feb 1–

March 15;

July 15–

Aug 15

March 1–

April 15;

July 1–

Aug 15

April 1–

June 30

1/2

3–6

12–36

12

1/2 oz

100

–

Early White Vienna

55

Grand Duke

45

Leek

American Flag

130

Jan 15–

Feb 15

Feb 15– March 15

March 15–

April 1

1/2

3–6

12–36

10

1/2 oz

–

–

Titan

110

Lettuce, head

Crispino

57

Nov 20–

Jan 20

March 1–15

April 1–

June 15

1/4–1/2

10–15

20–36

12

1/2 oz

50 heads

–

Iceberg

82

Lettuce, leaf

Black Seeded Simpson

45

Dec 1–

March 15; Aug 1–30

March 1–31;

July 15–

Aug 15

April 1–

July 1

1/4–1/2

8–12

20–36

6

1/2 oz

100

–

Oak Leaf

50

Ruby

45

Salad Bowl

45

Crop

Recommended Varieties

Days to Harvest

Planting Dates

How to Plant

Feet of Row per Person

Seed or Plants per 100 Feet of Row

Approximate Yield per 100 Feet of Row

Area 1

Area 2

Area 3

 

Distance Between

Fresh (lb)

Canned (pints)

Depth (in.)

Plants (in.)

Rows (in.)

Lettuce, leaf

Red Sails

50

Dec 1–

March 15;

Aug 1–30

March 1–31;

July 15–

Aug 15

April 1–

July 1

1/4–1/2

8–12

20–36

6

1/2 oz

100

–

Prizehead

45

Lettuce, romaine

Paris Island Cos

75

Dec 1–

March 15;

Aug 1–30

March 1–31;

July 15–

Aug 15

April 1–

July 15

1/4–1/2

10–14

20–36

–

1/2 oz

100

–

Coastal Star

57

Valmaine Cos

70

Lettuce, butterhead

Bibb

75

Dec 1–

March 15;

Aug 1–30

March 1–31;

July 15–

Aug 15

April 1–

July 1

1/4–1/2

10–15

20–36

–

1/2 oz

–

–

Buttercrunch

75

Adriana

48

Mustard

Tendergreen

35

Feb 1–

March 31;

Aug 1–30

March 1–

April 15;

Aug 1–31

April 1–

July 15

1/2

5–10

20–36

6

1–2 oz

50

60

Okra

Clemson Spineless

56

April 1–15

April 15–30

May 1–15

1

8–24

42–60

10

2 oz

30

12–24

Annie Oakley Hybrid

52

Onions,
fall planted

Hybrid White Bermuda

92

Oct 1–15

–

–

1/2

2–4

20–36

20

1 oz

70

–

Texas Grano 1015Y

175

Red Hamburger

95

Granex Hybrid

80

Sierra Blanca

109

Onions, spring planted

White, Yellow & Red Globe

110

Jan 15–

Feb 15

Feb 15–

March 15

March 15–

April 3

1/2

2–4

20–36

40

1 oz

75

–

White & Yellow Sweet Spanish

80–100

Crop

Recommended Varieties

Days to Harvest

Planting Dates

How to Plant

Feet of
Row
per Person

Seed or Plants per 100 Feet of Row

Approximate Yield per 100 Feet of Row

Area 1

Area 2

Area 3

 

Distance Between

Fresh (lb)

Canned (pints)

Depth (in.)

Plants (in.)

Rows (in.)

Parsnips

All American

100

Jan 15–

March 1

Feb 15–

April 15

April 1–

May 15

1/2

2–4

20–36

0

1 oz

100

–

Hollow Crown

110

Peas, snap

Sugar Daddy

62

Jan 15–

Feb 15

Feb 15–

April 15

March 15–

June 15

1

1–3

24–36

5

2 lb

40

25

Sugar Ann

56

Sugar Bon

56

Sugar Snap

70

Super Snappy

65

Peas, snow

Oregon Sugar Pod II

68

Jan 15–

Feb 15

Feb 15–

April 15

March 15–

June 15

1

1–3

24–36

5

2 lb

40

25

Dwarf Gray Sugar

57

Peas, English

Alaska

55

Jan 15–

Feb 15

Feb 15–

April 15

March 15–

June 15

1

1–3

24–36

5

2 lb

40

25

Green Arrow

70

Little Marvel

63

Wando

68

Lincoln

67

Peas, cowpeas

California Black-Eye

75

April 14–

May 1

May 1–31

May 1–

July 15

1/2–1

5–8

24–36

–

–

–

–

Purple Hull

78

Peppers, bell

Bell Boy

72

April 1–30

April 15–

May 15

May 15–

June 15

1/4

12–24

24–36

5

1/2 oz

40

–

Gypsy Hybrid

65

California Wonder

75

Crop

Recommended Varieties

Days to Harvest

Planting Dates

How to Plant

Feet of Row per Person

Seed or Plants per 100 Feet of Row

Approximate Yield per 100 Feet of Row

Area 1

Area 2

Area 3

 

Distance Between

Fresh (lb)

Canned (pints)

Depth (in.)

Plants (in.)

Rows (in.)

Peppers, chile

Española Improved (hot)

70

April 1–30

April 15–

May 15

May 15–

June 15

1/4

12–24

24–36

15

1/2 oz

75

–

Hungarian Wax (hot)

65

Early Jalapeño (hot)

80

NuMex R Naky (mild)

80

New Mexico 6-4 (mild)

80

NuMex Big Jim (mild to medium)

80

NuMex Joe E. Parker (mild to medium)

80

Sandia (hot)

80

Potato

Irish Cobbler (white)

100

Feb 1–28

April 1–

May 15

May 1–31

4

12

30–36

60

10 lb of seed pieces

75

–

Kennebec (white)

105

La Rouge (red)

110

Norgold (russett)

105

Pontiac (red)

105

Viking (purple)

105

Yukon Gold

90

Sweet potato

Caromex

130

May 1–15

May 15–31

June 1–15

(transplants)

10–18

36–48

5

65–120 plants

–

–

Centennial

130

Bush Porto Rico

110

Jewel

130

Murasaki 29 PP19955

130

Crop

Recommended Varieties

Days to Harvest

Planting Dates

How to Plant

Feet of Row per Person

Seed or Plants per 100 Feet of Row

Approximate Yield per 100 Feet of Row

Area 1

Area 2

Area 3

 

Distance Between

Fresh (lb)

Canned (pints)

Depth (in.)

Plants (in.)

Rows (in.)

Pumpkin

Big Max

120

April 1–30

May 1–15

May 15–31

1–1 1/2

36–60

72–96

5

1 oz

150

–

Jack-O-Lantern

110

New England Pie

105

Small Sugar

100

Spirit

100

Hybrid Autumn Gold

90

Jack-Be-Little

100

Radish

Cherry Belle

22

Feb 1–

March 31

March 1–

April 30

April 1–

July 15

1/2

1–2

12–18

6

1 oz

100 bunches

–

Easter Egg

25

French Breakfast

23

Sparkler

25

White Icicle

28

Champion

28

German Giant

29

Spinach

America

50

Jan 15–

Feb 15;

Sept 1–30

Feb 15–

March 15;

Aug 1–30

March 15–

July 15

1/2

2–6

12–36

15

1 oz

50

60

Bloomsdale Long Standing

43

Melody

42

Winter Bloomsdale

45

Tyee

37

Avon Hybrid

44

Giant Nobel

43

Crop

Recommended Varieties

Days to Harvest

Planting Dates

How to Plant

Feet of Row per Person

Seed or Plants per 100 Feet of Row

Approximate Yield per 100 Feet of Row

Area 1

Area 2

Area 3

 

Distance Between

Fresh (lbs)

Canned (pints)

Depth (in.)

Plants (in.)

Rows (in.)

Spinach, summer

New Zealand

70

March 15–

April 15

April 15–

May 15

May 15–

June 15

1

12–18

36

10

1 oz

60

75

Squash, summer

Dixie (crookneck, yellow)

55

April 1–

Aug 1

April 15–

July 1

May 15–

June 15

1

24–48

36–60

5

2 oz

100

–

Early Prolific (straightneck, yellow)

53

Gold Rush (zucchini, yellow)

45

Hybrid Jackpot (zucchini, green)

44

Black Magic (zucchini, green)

50

Dark Star (zucchini, green)

50

Grey Zucchini

42

Peter Pan (scallop)

50

Sunburst Hybrid (scallop)

50

Squash, winter

Blue Hubbard

115

April 1–

June 1

April 15–

May 15

May 1–15

1

36–96

72–96

10

1 oz

40 fruits

–

Buttercup

105

Acorn

115

Sweet Mama Hybrid

85

Table King Acorn

75

Table Queen Acorn

80

Crop

Recommended Varieties

Days to Harvest

Planting Dates

How to Plant

Feet of Row per Person

Seed or Plants per 100 Feet of Row

Approximate Yield per 100 Feet of Row

Area 1

Area 2

Area 3

 

Distance Between

Fresh (lb)

Depth (in.)

Plants (in.)

Rows (in.)

Squash, winter

Vegetable Spaghetti

100

April 1–

June 1

April 15–

May 15

May 1–15

1

36–96

72–96

10

1 oz

40 fruits

–

Waltham Butternut

97

Delicata

100

Ponca (baby butternut)

90

Table Ace (acorn)

70

Tomatoes, plum, small types

Black Cherry

65

Feb 15–

March 15

April 15–30

May 1–15

1/2

18–48

36–60

60

25–65 plants or 1/2 oz

150

110

Red Cherry

72

Sun Gold

57

Sweet 100

70

Tiny Tim

55

Yellow Pear

70

Tomatoes, regular

Beefmaster VFN

80

Feb 15–

March 15

April 15–30

May 1–15

1/2

18–48

36–60

60

25–65 plants or 1/2 oz

150

110

Better Boy VFN

72

Cherokee Purple

80

Early Girl

54

Early Pick VF

68

Extra Early VFNT

55

Fantastic

65

Homestead 24

76

Delicious

77

Crop

Recommended Varieties

Days to Harvest

Planting Dates

How to Plant

Feet of Row per Person

Seed or Plants per 100 Feet of Row

Approximate Yield per 100 Feet of Row

Area 1

Area 2

Area 3

 

Distance Between

Fresh (lbs)

Canned (pints)

Depth (in.)

Plants (in.)

Rows (in.)

Squash, winter

Vegetable Spaghetti

100

April 1–

June 1

April 15–

May 15

May 1–15

1

36–96

72–96

10

1 oz

40 fruits

–

Waltham Butternut

97

Delicata

100

Ponca (baby butternut)

90

Table Ace (acorn)

70

Tomatoes, plum, small types

Black Cherry

65

Feb 15–

March 15

April 15–30

May 1–15

1/2

18–48

36–60

60

25–65 plants or 1/2 oz

150

110

Red Cherry

72

Sun Gold

57

Sweet 100

70

Tiny Tim

55

Yellow Pear

70

Tomatoes, regular

Beefmaster VFN

80

Feb 15–

March 15

April 15–30

May 1–15

1/2

18–48

36–60

60

25–65 plants or 1/2 oz

150

110

Better Boy VFN

72

Cherokee Purple

80

Early Girl

54

Early Pick VF

68

Extra Early VFNT

55

Fantastic

65

Homestead 24

76

Delicious

77

Crop

Recommended Varieties

Days to Harvest

Planting Dates

How to Plant

Feet of Row per Person

Seed or Plants per 100 Feet of Row

Approximate Yield per 100 Feet of Row

Area 1

Area 2

Area 3

 

Distance Between

Fresh (lb)

Canned (pints)

Depth (in.)

Plants (in.)

Rows (in.)

Tomatoes, regular

Celebrity Hybrid VFNT

70

Feb 15–

March 15

April 15–30

May 1–15

1/2

18–48

36–60

60

25–65 plants or 1/2 oz

150

110

Super Beefsteak VFN

80

Tomatoes, paste

Roma VF

75

Feb 15–

March 15

April 15–30

May 1–15

1/2

18–48

36–60

60

25–65 plants or 1/2 oz

150

110

Viva Italia Hybrid

80

San Marzano

80

Turnips

Purple Top White Globe

55

Feb 1–

March 15;

July 20–

Aug 20

March 1–

April 15;

July 1–

Aug 15

April 1–

June 30

1/2

2–6

12–36

30

3/4 oz

100

–

Hybrid Toyko Cross

35

Watermelon

Black Diamond

90

April 1–15

April 20–

May 20

May 1–15

1

24–36

72–96

10

1 oz

20 fruits

–

Charleston Gray

85

Crimson Sweet

80

Bush Sugar Baby

75

Sweet Favorite

80

Melons, Other

Casaba, Golden Beauty

120

April 1–15

April 20–

May 20

May 1–15

1

24–36

72–96

–

1 oz

90 melons

–

Crenshaw, Early Hybrid

90

Honeydew Type, Hybrid Earli-Dew

80

Honeydew Type, Venus

88


For Further Reading

CR-457: Home Vegetable Gardening in New Mexico
pubs.nmsu.edu/_circulars/CR457/

H-220: Starting Plants Early Outdoors
pubs.nmsu.edu//_h/H220/

H-221: Spices and Herbs for the Home Garden
pubs.nmsu.edu//_h/H221/

H-240: Growing Chile Peppers in New Mexico Gardens
pubs.nmsu.edu//_h/H240/

Photo of Stephanie Walker.


Stephanie Walker is Extension Vegetable Specialist, and has extensive experience in the food processing industry. Her primary research interests include genetics and breeding of chile peppers, vegetable mechanization, enhancing pigment content, post-harvest quality, and irrigation efficiency. She works to help commercial vegetable growers enhance the sustainability and profitability of their operations through collaboration, experimentation, and information sharing.

To find more resources for your business, home, or family, visit the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences on the World Wide Web at pubs.nmsu.edu/.

Contents of publications may be freely reproduced, with an appropriate citation, for educational purposes. All other rights reserved. For permission to use publications for other purposes, contact pubs@nmsu.edu or the authors listed on the publication.

New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. NMSU and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating.

Revised January 2021 Las Cruces, NM