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

Planting zone for Kearney, NE

Kearney, NE is in USDA zone 5b across its 4 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost October 10.

Kearney on the zone map

Outlined: its 3 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 codes4
Last frostApr 30
First frostOct 10
Growing season162 days

5b 4 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Kearney, NE…

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 Kearney, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 12only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 10median — 10% chance by Sep 25
Growing season162 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 19 and returns around October 19.

From the NOAA station Kearney 4 Ne, NE, elevation 2,129 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 Kearney

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesTransplant · May 7 – May 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 14 – May 28
BeansSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 15 – Aug 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 26 – Oct 31
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 30) and first fall frost (Oct 10) 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 68849 came on Mar 4 — 25 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 29).

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 Kearney, NE.

Soil in Kearney, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 68849 is Hord — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.8neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Hord silt loam, 0 to 1 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 68849; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Kearney, NE

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days31days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights157nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,132base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 06 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 15 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation24.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 36 °F, low 14 °F 36°14° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 17 °F 40°17° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 25 °F 51°25° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 36 °F 62°36° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 47 °F 72°47° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 63 °F 87°63° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 61 °F 84°61° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 51 °F 78°51° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 38 °F 65°38° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 25 °F 51°25° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 17 °F 38°17° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.45 in precipitation 0.5 JanFebruary: 0.69 in precipitation 0.7 FebMarch: 1.54 in precipitation 1.5 MarApril: 2.82 in precipitation 2.8 AprMay: 4.10 in precipitation 4.1 MayJune: 3.44 in precipitation 3.4 JunJuly: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 3.01 in precipitation 3.0 AugSeptember: 1.72 in precipitation 1.7 SepOctober: 1.90 in precipitation 1.9 OctNovember: 0.81 in precipitation 0.8 NovDecember: 0.54 in precipitation 0.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Kearney 4 Ne, NE (5 mi away); precipitation: Kearney 1.8 Wnw, NE (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Kearney

688455b
−15 to −10 °F
688475b
−15 to −10 °F
688485b
−15 to −10 °F
688495b
−15 to −10 °F

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about Kearney

What planting zone is Kearney, NE?

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

When is the last frost in Kearney, NE?

The median last spring frost is April 30 and the median first fall frost is October 10 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Kearney 4 Ne station).

When can I plant a garden in Kearney, NE?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 19 – Apr 9; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 7, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Kearney, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 06 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Kearney, NE get?

About 24.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).