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

Planting zone for 68531 — Lincoln, NE

ZIP code 68531 (Lincoln, Lancaster County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 22 and the first fall frost October 16.

Where ZIP 68531 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 22
First frostOct 16
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 Lincoln, 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 Lincoln, 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 — 4 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 68531

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 68531 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 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 Lincoln, NE.

Soil in Lincoln, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 68531 is Pawnee — clay loam, moderately well drained.

TextureClay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH5.6moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Pawnee clay loam, 4 to 8 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 68531; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lincoln, 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 07 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 14 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation31 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall33 inper year; 45 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 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 · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 0.75 in precipitation, 9 in snowfall 0.8❄9 JanFebruary: 0.98 in precipitation, 7.3 in snowfall 1.0❄7 FebMarch: 1.68 in precipitation, 5.2 in snowfall 1.7❄5 MarApril: 2.74 in precipitation, 1.8 in snowfall 2.7❄2 AprMay: 5.19 in precipitation 5.2 MayJune: 4.64 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 3.58 in precipitation 3.6 JulAugust: 3.73 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 2.90 in precipitation 2.9 SepOctober: 2.31 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 2.3❄1 OctNovember: 1.40 in precipitation, 1.8 in snowfall 1.4❄2 NovDecember: 1.11 in precipitation, 6.6 in snowfall 1.1❄7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Raymond 2e, NE (4 mi away); precipitation: Raymond 2e, NE (4 mi away). 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.

685216a
Lincoln, NE · 3 mi
685145b
Lincoln, NE · 4 mi
685246a
Lincoln, NE · 4 mi
685296a
Lincoln, NE · 4 mi
683365b
Davey, NE · 4 mi
685046a
Lincoln, NE · 5 mi
685176a
Lincoln, NE · 6 mi
685036a
Lincoln, NE · 6 mi

All 27 ZIP codes in Lincoln → · Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 68531

What planting zone is ZIP code 68531?

ZIP code 68531 (Lincoln, 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 Lincoln, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 68531 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 Lincoln, NE?

The median first fall frost near 68531 is October 16, giving a median frost-free growing season of 175 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 68531?

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 68531 get?

About 31 inches of precipitation a year and 33 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Raymond 2e station).

How hot do summers get in Lincoln, 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 68531 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Pawnee at the center of ZIP 68531: clay loam, moderately well drained, pH about 5.6 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Lincoln, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 68531 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 Lincoln, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 68531 is 15 h 07 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 68531 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 68531 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.