Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated Oct 30, 2026

Planting zone for 66941 — Esbon, KS

ZIP code 66941 (Esbon, Jewell County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost October 8.

Where ZIP 66941 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F

Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C

Last frostApr 30

First frostOct 8

2012 zone5b

Was 5b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Esbon, KS…

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 Esbon, KS

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 10only 10% chance of frost after

First fall frostOctober 8median — 10% chance by Sep 25

Growing season159 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 22 and returns around October 17.

From the NOAA station Burr Oak 1n, KS — 8 miles away, elevation 1,650 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 66941

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 13 – Aug 27

GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 24 – Oct 29

Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 30) and first fall frost (Oct 8) 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 66941 came on Mar 12 — 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 27).

average
Mar 272026
Mar 12

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 6a in Kansas

425 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Kansas, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

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 Esbon, KS.

Soil in Esbon, KS

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 66941 is Nuckolls — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables

pH6.7neutral; 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: Nuckolls-Tobin silt loams, 0 to 30 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 66941; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Esbon, KS

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July

Winter low14 °Faverage low, January

Hot days36days a year at 90 °F or more

Freezing nights154nights a year at 32 °F or less

Growing degree days3,340base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat

Longest day15 h 00 mindaylight on June 21

Shortest day9 h 21 mindaylight on December 21

Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully

Precipitation28.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Snowfall23 inper year; 19 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Burr Oak 1n, KS (8 mi away); precipitation: Lebanon, KS (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

1 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

Cawker City, KS · 18 mi

669496a

Jewell, KS · 18 mi

689426a

Guide Rock, NE · 20 mi

689705b

Red Cloud, NE · 20 mi

674746a

Portis, KS · 21 mi

Kansas planting zones →

Questions about 66941

What planting zone is ZIP code 66941?

ZIP code 66941 (Esbon, KS) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Esbon, KS?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 66941 is April 30; after May 10 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Burr Oak 1n station.

When is the first frost in Esbon, KS?

The median first fall frost near 66941 is October 8, giving a median frost-free growing season of 159 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 66941?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 5 – Mar 19 and set transplants outside around May 7 – May 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 66941 get?

About 28.3 inches of precipitation a year and 23 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lebanon station).

How hot do summers get in Esbon, KS?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 36 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 66941 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Nuckolls at the center of ZIP 66941: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Esbon, KS in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 66941 came on Mar 12 in 2026, 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 27), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Esbon, KS?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 66941 is 15 h 00 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 66941 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 66941 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.