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

Planting zone for 68040 — Malmo, NE

ZIP code 68040 (Malmo, Saunders County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 23 and the first fall frost October 13.

Where ZIP 68040 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostApr 23
First frostOct 13
2012 zone5b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Malmo, 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 Malmo, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 23median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 13median — 10% chance by Sep 29
Growing season174 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 14 and returns around October 24.

From the NOAA station Weston 3nw, NE — 5 miles away, elevation 1,365 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 68040

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Apr 2
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 30 – May 14
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 7 – May 21
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 18 – Sep 1
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 29 – Nov 3
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 23) and first fall frost (Oct 13) 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 68040 came on Mar 18 — 13 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 Malmo, NE.

Soil in Malmo, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 68040 is Yutan — silty clay loam, well drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH5.9moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.3%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Yutan, eroded-Judson complex, 6 to 11 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 68040; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Malmo, NE

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days26days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights147nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,297base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 10 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 11 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation32.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall29 inper year; 41 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 32 °F, low 13 °F 32°13° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 17 °F 37°17° FebMarch: average high 50 °F, low 27 °F 50°27° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 38 °F 62°38° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 50 °F 73°50° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 61 °F 83°61° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 64 °F 86°64° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 62 °F 84°62° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 52 °F 77°52° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 40 °F 64°40° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 28 °F 49°28° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 18 °F 36°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 0.69 in precipitation, 7.6 in snowfall 0.7❄8 JanFebruary: 0.87 in precipitation, 7.1 in snowfall 0.9❄7 FebMarch: 1.75 in precipitation, 5.3 in snowfall 1.8❄5 MarApril: 3.15 in precipitation, 1.6 in snowfall 3.1❄2 AprMay: 5.51 in precipitation 5.5 MayJune: 5.06 in precipitation 5.1 JunJuly: 3.24 in precipitation 3.2 JulAugust: 4.59 in precipitation 4.6 AugSeptember: 3.14 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 2.36 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 2.4❄1 OctNovember: 1.37 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 1.4❄1 NovDecember: 1.03 in precipitation, 5.6 in snowfall 1.0❄6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Weston 3nw, NE (5 mi away); precipitation: Prague, NE (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

680505b
Prague, NE · 5 mi
680185b
Colon, NE · 7 mi
680705b
Weston, NE · 7 mi
686485b
Morse Bluff, NE · 8 mi
680155b
Cedar Bluffs, NE · 8 mi
680665b
Wahoo, NE · 9 mi
680145b
Bruno, NE · 12 mi
680015b
Abie, NE · 12 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 68040

What planting zone is ZIP code 68040?

ZIP code 68040 (Malmo, NE) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in Malmo, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 68040 is April 23; after May 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Weston 3nw station.

When is the first frost in Malmo, NE?

The median first fall frost near 68040 is October 13, giving a median frost-free growing season of 174 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 68040?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 26 – Mar 12 and set transplants outside around Apr 30 – May 14, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 68040 get?

About 32.8 inches of precipitation a year and 29 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Prague station).

How hot do summers get in Malmo, NE?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 26 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 68040 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Yutan at the center of ZIP 68040: silty clay loam, well drained, pH about 5.9 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Malmo, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 68040 came on Mar 18 in 2026, 13 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Malmo, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 68040 is 15 h 10 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).