Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Grand Island, NE

Grand Island, NE is in USDA zone 5b across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 23 and the first fall frost October 15.

Grand Island on the zone map

Outlined: its 2 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
ZIP codes3
Last frostApr 23
First frostOct 15
Growing season174 days

5b 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Grand Island, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 23median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 6only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 15median — 10% chance by Sep 29
Growing season174 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 12 and returns around October 23.

From the NOAA station Grand Island Airport, NE, elevation 1,841 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Grand Island

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Apr 2
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 30 – May 14
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 7 – May 21
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 20 – Sep 3
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 1 – Nov 5
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 23) and first fall frost (Oct 15) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 68803 came on Mar 10 — 20 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 30).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 5b in Nebraska

420 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Nebraska, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 31

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Fbitternut hickory75 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −47 °Fblack locust60 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −37 °Fblack oak80 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −30 °F

Shrubs 55

alderleaf mountain mahogany15 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −41 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fantelope bitterbrush6 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −36 °Fbig sagebrush4 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −43 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 190

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine sweetvetch2 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 130

alkali cordgrass3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbasin wildrye5 ft · blooms early spring · high shade tolerance · to −43 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 7

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °FVirginia creeper1 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Grand Island, NE.

Soil in Grand Island, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 68803 is Oneill — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.8moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Oneill sandy loam, 2 to 6 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 68803; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Grand Island, NE

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days36days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights145nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,550base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 07 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 14 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation28.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 36 °F, low 16 °F 36°16° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 19 °F 40°19° FebMarch: average high 53 °F, low 29 °F 53°29° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 39 °F 63°39° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 51 °F 73°51° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 61 °F 84°61° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 66 °F 88°66° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 64 °F 86°64° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 54 °F 79°54° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 41 °F 66°41° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 28 °F 51°28° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 19 °F 39°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.56 in precipitation 0.6 JanFebruary: 0.73 in precipitation 0.7 FebMarch: 1.42 in precipitation 1.4 MarApril: 2.95 in precipitation 3.0 AprMay: 5.00 in precipitation 5.0 MayJune: 4.37 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 3.75 in precipitation 3.8 JulAugust: 3.39 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 2.02 in precipitation 2.0 SepOctober: 2.28 in precipitation 2.3 OctNovember: 1.16 in precipitation 1.2 NovDecember: 0.95 in precipitation 0.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Grand Island Airport, NE (5 mi away); precipitation: Grand Island 1.8 W, NE (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Grand Island

688015b
−15 to −10 °F
688025b
−15 to −10 °F
688035b
−15 to −10 °F

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about Grand Island

What planting zone is Grand Island, NE?

Grand Island, NE is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map (5b: −15 to −10 °F).

When is the last frost in Grand Island, NE?

The median last spring frost is April 23 and the median first fall frost is October 15 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Grand Island Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Grand Island, NE?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 12 – Apr 2; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 30, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Grand Island, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 07 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Grand Island, NE get?

About 28.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).