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

Planting zone for 68065 — Valparaiso, NE

ZIP code 68065 (Valparaiso, Saunders County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 22 and the first fall frost October 16.

Where ZIP 68065 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 22
First frostOct 16
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 Valparaiso, 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 Valparaiso, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 22median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 3only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 16median — 10% chance by Sep 29
Growing season175 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 12 and returns around October 24.

From the NOAA station Raymond 2e, NE — 10 miles away, elevation 1,283 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 68065

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Apr 1
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 29 – May 13
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 6 – May 20
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 21 – Sep 4
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 2 – Nov 6
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 22) and first fall frost (Oct 16) 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 68065 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).

Soil in Valparaiso, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 68065 is Judson — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Judson silt loam, 2 to 6 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 68065; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Valparaiso, NE

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days27days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights146nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,300base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 08 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 13 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation30.3 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 33 °F, low 13 °F 33°13° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 16 °F 37°16° FebMarch: average high 50 °F, low 27 °F 50°27° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 38 °F 62°38° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 50 °F 72°50° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 65 °F 86°65° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 62 °F 85°62° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 53 °F 78°53° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 40 °F 65°40° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 27 °F 49°27° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 17 °F 37°17° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 0.69 in precipitation 0.7 JanFebruary: 0.81 in precipitation 0.8 FebMarch: 1.58 in precipitation 1.6 MarApril: 2.87 in precipitation 2.9 AprMay: 5.12 in precipitation 5.1 MayJune: 4.87 in precipitation 4.9 JunJuly: 2.85 in precipitation 2.9 JulAugust: 4.18 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 2.62 in precipitation 2.6 SepOctober: 2.35 in precipitation 2.4 OctNovember: 1.35 in precipitation 1.4 NovDecember: 1.05 in precipitation 1.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Raymond 2e, NE (10 mi away); precipitation: Brainard 1.8 Sse, NE (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

684285b
Raymond, NE · 8 mi
680705b
Weston, NE · 9 mi
686355b
Dwight, NE · 9 mi
680175b
Ceresco, NE · 10 mi
686265b
Brainard, NE · 10 mi
683145b
Bee, NE · 10 mi
683605b
Garland, NE · 11 mi
683365b
Davey, NE · 11 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 68065

What planting zone is ZIP code 68065?

ZIP code 68065 (Valparaiso, 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 Valparaiso, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 68065 is April 22; after May 3 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Raymond 2e station.

When is the first frost in Valparaiso, NE?

The median first fall frost near 68065 is October 16, giving a median frost-free growing season of 175 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 68065?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 25 – Mar 11 and set transplants outside around Apr 29 – May 13, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 68065 get?

About 30.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Brainard 1.8 Sse station).

How hot do summers get in Valparaiso, NE?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 27 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 68065 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Judson at the center of ZIP 68065: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Valparaiso, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 68065 came on Mar 11 in 2026, 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 30), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Valparaiso, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 68065 is 15 h 08 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).