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

Planting zone for 68366 — Greenwood, NE

ZIP code 68366 (Greenwood, Cass 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 16.

Where ZIP 68366 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 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 Greenwood, 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 Greenwood, 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 16median — 10% chance by Sep 29
Growing season175 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 13 and returns around October 25.

From the NOAA station Ashland #2, NE — 5 miles away, elevation 1,119 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 68366

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 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 23) 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 68366 came on Mar 10 — 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 29).

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 Greenwood, NE.

Soil in Greenwood, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 68366 is Zook — silty clay loam, poorly drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.3slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter6%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Zook silty clay loam, occasionally flooded.

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 68366; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Greenwood, NE

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days37days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights145nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,470base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 07 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)
Precipitation32.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall22 inper year; 30 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 13 °F 33°13° JanFebruary: average high 38 °F, low 17 °F 38°17° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 28 °F 51°28° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 38 °F 63°38° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 50 °F 73°50° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 62 °F 83°62° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 66 °F 87°66° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 53 °F 79°53° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 41 °F 65°41° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 28 °F 50°28° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 18 °F 37°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 0.85 in precipitation, 5.7 in snowfall 0.8❄6 JanFebruary: 0.98 in precipitation, 6.2 in snowfall 1.0❄6 FebMarch: 1.67 in precipitation, 3.2 in snowfall 1.7❄3 MarApril: 3.18 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 3.2❄1 AprMay: 5.19 in precipitation 5.2 MayJune: 4.48 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 3.68 in precipitation 3.7 JulAugust: 3.96 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 3.19 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 2.40 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 2.4❄1 OctNovember: 1.42 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 1.4❄1 NovDecember: 1.29 in precipitation, 4.8 in snowfall 1.3❄5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ashland #2, NE (5 mi away); precipitation: Ashland #2, NE (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

684625b
Waverly, NE · 5 mi
680035b
Ashland, NE · 7 mi
683046a
Alvo, NE · 7 mi
680425b
Memphis, NE · 8 mi
685176a
Lincoln, NE · 9 mi
684076a
Murdock, NE · 10 mi
680585b
South Bend, NE · 10 mi
685275b
Lincoln, NE · 10 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 68366

What planting zone is ZIP code 68366?

ZIP code 68366 (Greenwood, 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 Greenwood, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 68366 is April 23; after May 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ashland #2 station.

When is the first frost in Greenwood, NE?

The median first fall frost near 68366 is October 16, giving a median frost-free growing season of 175 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 68366?

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 68366 get?

About 32.3 inches of precipitation a year and 22 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ashland #2 station).

How hot do summers get in Greenwood, NE?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 37 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 68366 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Zook at the center of ZIP 68366: silty clay loam, poorly drained, pH about 6.3 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Greenwood, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 68366 came on Mar 10 in 2026, 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 29), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Greenwood, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 68366 is 15 h 07 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).