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

Planting zone for Omaha, NE

Omaha, NE is in USDA zones 5b to 6a across its 45 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 18 and the first fall frost October 21.

Omaha on the zone map

Outlined: its 33 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.

Zones5b–6a−15 to −5 °F
ZIP codes45
Last frostApr 18
First frostOct 21
Growing season185 days

5b 4 ZIPs   6a 41 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 Omaha, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 18median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 30only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 21median — 10% chance by Oct 6
Growing season185 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 8 and returns around October 30.

From the NOAA station Omaha Eppley Airfield, NE, elevation 981 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 Omaha

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 28
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 2 – May 16
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 26 – Sep 9
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 7 – Nov 11
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 18) and first fall frost (Oct 21) 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 68182 came on Mar 11 — 19 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 Omaha, NE.

Soil in Omaha, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 68182 is Udarents — silt loam. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
Organic matter0.5%low — add compost
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban land-Udarents complex, 0 to 16 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 68182; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Omaha, NE

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low15 °Faverage low, January
Hot days15days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights131nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,493base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 09 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 12 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation33.1 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 32 °F, low 15 °F 32°15° JanFebruary: average high 38 °F, low 20 °F 38°20° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 30 °F 51°30° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 41 °F 64°41° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 52 °F 72°52° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 62 °F 81°62° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 66 °F 85°66° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 65 °F 84°65° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 57 °F 77°57° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 43 °F 63°43° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 30 °F 50°30° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 20 °F 36°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.90 in precipitation 0.9 JanFebruary: 1.10 in precipitation 1.1 FebMarch: 1.80 in precipitation 1.8 MarApril: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 AprMay: 4.92 in precipitation 4.9 MayJune: 4.70 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 3.49 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 AugSeptember: 3.07 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 2.42 in precipitation 2.4 OctNovember: 1.44 in precipitation 1.4 NovDecember: 1.44 in precipitation 1.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Omaha #1, NE (7 mi away); precipitation: Omaha 2.9 W, NE (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Omaha

681016a
−10 to −5 °F
681026a
−10 to −5 °F
681036a
−10 to −5 °F
681046a
−10 to −5 °F
681056a
−10 to −5 °F
681066a
−10 to −5 °F
681076a
−10 to −5 °F
681086a
−10 to −5 °F
681096a
−10 to −5 °F
681106a
−10 to −5 °F
681116a
−10 to −5 °F
681125b
−15 to −10 °F
681146a
−10 to −5 °F
681166a
−10 to −5 °F
681176a
−10 to −5 °F
681186a
−10 to −5 °F
681195b
−15 to −10 °F
681225b
−15 to −10 °F
681246a
−10 to −5 °F
681276a
−10 to −5 °F
681306a
−10 to −5 °F
681316a
−10 to −5 °F
681326a
−10 to −5 °F
681346a
−10 to −5 °F
681356a
−10 to −5 °F
681366a
−10 to −5 °F
681376a
−10 to −5 °F
681386a
−10 to −5 °F
681396a
−10 to −5 °F
681426a
−10 to −5 °F
681446a
−10 to −5 °F
681456a
−10 to −5 °F
681525b
−15 to −10 °F
681546a
−10 to −5 °F
681576a
−10 to −5 °F
681646a
−10 to −5 °F
681726a
−10 to −5 °F
681756a
−10 to −5 °F
681766a
−10 to −5 °F
681786a
−10 to −5 °F
681796a
−10 to −5 °F
681806a
−10 to −5 °F
681826a
−10 to −5 °F
681836a
−10 to −5 °F
681976a
−10 to −5 °F

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about Omaha

What planting zone is Omaha, NE?

Omaha, NE is in USDA hardiness zones 5b to 6a on the 2023 map (5b: −15 to −10 °F; 6a: −10 to −5 °F).

When is the last frost in Omaha, NE?

The median last spring frost is April 18 and the median first fall frost is October 21 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Omaha Eppley Airfield station).

When can I plant a garden in Omaha, NE?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 7 – Mar 28; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 25, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Omaha, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 09 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Omaha, NE get?

About 33.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).