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

Planting zone for North Platte, NE

North Platte, NE is in USDA zone 5b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 3 and the first fall frost October 10.

North Platte on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 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 codes2
Last frostMay 3
First frostOct 10
Growing season158 days

5b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

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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 North Platte, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 3median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 15only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 10median — 10% chance by Sep 26
Growing season158 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 25 and returns around October 19.

From the NOAA station N Platte Exp Farm, NE, elevation 3,025 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 North Platte

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 12
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
TomatoesTransplant · May 10 – May 24
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 17 – May 31
BeansSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
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 (May 3) 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 69101 came on Mar 3 — 28 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31).

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 North Platte, NE.

Soil in North Platte, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 69101 is McCook — loam, moderately well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH8.2alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: McCook loam, saline-alkali.

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 69101; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in North Platte, NE

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days32days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights163nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,911base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 08 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 13 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation22.2 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 37 °F, low 14 °F 37°14° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 16 °F 41°16° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 25 °F 52°25° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 33 °F 61°33° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 45 °F 70°45° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 56 °F 81°56° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 61 °F 87°61° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 59 °F 85°59° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 50 °F 78°50° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 37 °F 64°37° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 24 °F 50°24° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 16 °F 39°16° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.31 in precipitation 0.3 JanFebruary: 0.59 in precipitation 0.6 FebMarch: 1.02 in precipitation 1.0 MarApril: 2.36 in precipitation 2.4 AprMay: 3.50 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 3.76 in precipitation 3.8 JunJuly: 3.22 in precipitation 3.2 JulAugust: 2.92 in precipitation 2.9 AugSeptember: 1.73 in precipitation 1.7 SepOctober: 1.82 in precipitation 1.8 OctNovember: 0.54 in precipitation 0.5 NovDecember: 0.47 in precipitation 0.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: N Platte Exp Farm, NE (7 mi away); precipitation: North Platte 1.0 W, NE (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in North Platte

691015b
−15 to −10 °F
691035b
−15 to −10 °F

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about North Platte

What planting zone is North Platte, NE?

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

When is the last frost in North Platte, NE?

The median last spring frost is May 3 and the median first fall frost is October 10 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, N Platte Exp Farm station).

When can I plant a garden in North Platte, NE?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 22 – Apr 12; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 10, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in North Platte, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 08 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does North Platte, NE get?

About 22.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).