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

Planting zone for Scottsbluff, NE

Scottsbluff, NE is in USDA zone 5a across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost October 2.

Scottsbluff 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.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMay 13
First frostOct 2
Growing season142 days

5a 2 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 Scottsbluff, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 13median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 26only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 2median — 10% chance by Sep 20
Growing season142 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 3 and returns around October 12.

From the NOAA station Plainsview Rch, NE, elevation 4,682 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 Scottsbluff

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 22
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 22 – May 6
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
TomatoesTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 27 – Jun 10
BeansSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 7 – Aug 21
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 18 – Oct 23
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 13) and first fall frost (Oct 2) 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 69361 came on Mar 5 — 29 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 3).

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 5a in Nebraska

413 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Nebraska, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. 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 184

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 129

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 Scottsbluff, NE.

Soil in Scottsbluff, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 69361 is Valent — loamy fine sand, excessively drained.

TextureLoamy fine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.9neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Valent loamy fine sand, 0 to 3 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 69361; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Scottsbluff, NE

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days34days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights163nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,526base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 14 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 07 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation18.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall53 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 39 °F, low 16 °F 39°16° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 18 °F 42°18° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 25 °F 52°25° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 32 °F 59°32° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 41 °F 68°41° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 51 °F 79°51° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 57 °F 88°57° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 56 °F 86°56° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 47 °F 77°47° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 35 °F 62°35° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 25 °F 49°25° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 17 °F 39°17° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.38 in precipitation, 5.8 in snowfall 0.4❄6 JanFebruary: 0.56 in precipitation, 8.9 in snowfall 0.6❄9 FebMarch: 1.12 in precipitation, 8.1 in snowfall 1.1❄8 MarApril: 2.09 in precipitation, 7.8 in snowfall 2.1❄8 AprMay: 3.22 in precipitation, 3.6 in snowfall 3.2❄4 MayJune: 2.79 in precipitation 2.8 JunJuly: 2.11 in precipitation 2.1 JulAugust: 1.81 in precipitation 1.8 AugSeptember: 1.55 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.6 SepOctober: 1.35 in precipitation, 2 in snowfall 1.4❄2 OctNovember: 0.62 in precipitation, 6.7 in snowfall 0.6❄7 NovDecember: 0.51 in precipitation, 10.3 in snowfall 0.5❄10 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Plainsview Rch, NE (11 mi away); precipitation: Plainsview Rch, NE (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Scottsbluff

693615a
−20 to −15 °F
693635a
−20 to −15 °F

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about Scottsbluff

What planting zone is Scottsbluff, NE?

Scottsbluff, NE is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map (5a: −20 to −15 °F).

When is the last frost in Scottsbluff, NE?

The median last spring frost is May 13 and the median first fall frost is October 2 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Plainsview Rch station).

When can I plant a garden in Scottsbluff, NE?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Apr 1 – Apr 22; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 20, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Scottsbluff, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 14 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Scottsbluff, NE get?

About 18.1 inches of precipitation a year and 53 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).