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

Planting zone for 68343 — Dorchester, NE

ZIP code 68343 (Dorchester, Saline County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost October 13.

Where ZIP 68343 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 26
First frostOct 13
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 Dorchester, 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 Dorchester, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 6only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 13median — 10% chance by Sep 28
Growing season169 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 17 and returns around October 21.

From the NOAA station Friend 3e, NE — 6 miles away, elevation 1,536 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 68343

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Apr 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
TomatoesTransplant · May 3 – May 17
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 10 – May 24
BeansSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
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 26) 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 68343 came on Mar 10 — 18 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 28).

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 Nebraska

432 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Nebraska, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. 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 57

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 198

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 8

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 °Ftrumpet creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °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 Dorchester, NE.

Soil in Dorchester, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 68343 is Hastings — 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 matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Hastings silty clay loam, 3 to 7 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 68343; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Dorchester, NE

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days26days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights148nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,163base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 05 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 16 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation28.9 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 33 °F, low 13 °F 33°13° JanFebruary: average high 38 °F, low 16 °F 38°16° FebMarch: average high 50 °F, low 26 °F 50°26° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 36 °F 62°36° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 50 °F 72°50° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 64 °F 84°64° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 61 °F 83°61° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 52 °F 77°52° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 39 °F 65°39° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 26 °F 50°26° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 17 °F 36°17° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 0.60 in precipitation 0.6 JanFebruary: 0.68 in precipitation 0.7 FebMarch: 1.43 in precipitation 1.4 MarApril: 2.45 in precipitation 2.5 AprMay: 5.15 in precipitation 5.2 MayJune: 4.16 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 3.71 in precipitation 3.7 JulAugust: 3.06 in precipitation 3.1 AugSeptember: 3.12 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 2.35 in precipitation 2.4 OctNovember: 1.32 in precipitation 1.3 NovDecember: 0.89 in precipitation 0.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Friend 3e, NE (6 mi away); precipitation: Dorchester 2.1 Nw, NE (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

683596a
Friend, NE · 8 mi
683336a
Crete, NE · 10 mi
684055b
Milford, NE · 10 mi
684656a
Wilber, NE · 10 mi
683306a
Cordova, NE · 13 mi
683135b
Beaver Crossing, NE · 14 mi
684646a
Western, NE · 14 mi
684456a
Swanton, NE · 15 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 68343

What planting zone is ZIP code 68343?

ZIP code 68343 (Dorchester, NE) 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 Dorchester, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 68343 is April 26; after May 6 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Friend 3e station.

When is the first frost in Dorchester, NE?

The median first fall frost near 68343 is October 13, giving a median frost-free growing season of 169 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 68343?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 1 – Mar 15 and set transplants outside around May 3 – May 17, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 68343 get?

About 28.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Dorchester 2.1 Nw station).

How hot do summers get in Dorchester, NE?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 26 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 68343 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Hastings at the center of ZIP 68343: silty clay loam, well drained, pH about 5.9 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Dorchester, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 68343 came on Mar 10 in 2026, 18 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 28), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Dorchester, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 68343 is 15 h 05 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 68343 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 68343 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.