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

Planting zone for 68041 — Mead, NE

ZIP code 68041 (Mead, Saunders County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 25 and the first fall frost October 13.

Where ZIP 68041 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 25
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 Mead, 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 Mead, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 25median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 7only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 13median — 10% chance by Sep 28
Growing season170 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 13 and returns around October 22.

From the NOAA station Mead 6s, NE — 7 miles away, elevation 1,155 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 68041

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Apr 4
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
TomatoesTransplant · May 2 – May 16
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 9 – May 23
BeansSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
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 25) 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 68041 came on Mar 15 — 16 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).

Soil in Mead, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 68041 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 matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Yutan silty clay loam, terrace, 2 to 6 percent slopes, eroded.

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 68041; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Mead, NE

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days29days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights149nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,283base 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)
Precipitation30.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall20 inper year; 40 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 33 °F, low 12 °F 33°12° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 16 °F 37°16° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 27 °F 51°27° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 37 °F 63°37° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 49 °F 73°49° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 60 °F 83°60° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 64 °F 87°64° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 61 °F 85°61° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 52 °F 78°52° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 39 °F 65°39° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 26 °F 50°26° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 17 °F 37°17° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.62 in precipitation, 4.7 in snowfall 0.6❄5 JanFebruary: 0.78 in precipitation, 6 in snowfall 0.8❄6 FebMarch: 1.53 in precipitation, 2.6 in snowfall 1.5❄3 MarApril: 2.92 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 2.9❄1 AprMay: 4.72 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.7 MayJune: 4.90 in precipitation 4.9 JunJuly: 3.08 in precipitation 3.1 JulAugust: 3.77 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.15 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 2.18 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 2.2❄1 OctNovember: 1.33 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 1.3❄1 NovDecember: 1.12 in precipitation, 4.4 in snowfall 1.1❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Mead 6s, NE (7 mi away); precipitation: Mead 6s, NE (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

680735b
Yutan, NE · 4 mi
680185b
Colon, NE · 8 mi
680665b
Wahoo, NE · 8 mi
680335b
Ithaca, NE · 8 mi
680695b
Waterloo, NE · 9 mi
680645b
Valley, NE · 10 mi
680425b
Memphis, NE · 11 mi
680155b
Cedar Bluffs, NE · 13 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 68041

What planting zone is ZIP code 68041?

ZIP code 68041 (Mead, 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 Mead, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 68041 is April 25; after May 7 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mead 6s station.

When is the first frost in Mead, NE?

The median first fall frost near 68041 is October 13, giving a median frost-free growing season of 170 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 68041?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 28 – Mar 14 and set transplants outside around May 2 – May 16, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 68041 get?

About 30.1 inches of precipitation a year and 20 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mead 6s station).

How hot do summers get in Mead, NE?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 29 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 68041 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Yutan at the center of ZIP 68041: silty clay loam, well drained, pH about 5.9 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Mead, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 68041 came on Mar 15 in 2026, 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Mead, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 68041 is 15 h 09 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).