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

Planting zone for 68702 — Norfolk, NE

ZIP code 68702 (Norfolk, Madison County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost October 5.

Where ZIP 68702 is

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.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
Coldest night−28.9 to −26.1 °C
Last frostApr 30
First frostOct 5
2012 zone5a

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 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Norfolk, 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 Norfolk, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 14only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 5median — 10% chance by Sep 21
Growing season157 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 20 and returns around October 16.

From the NOAA station Norfolk Karl Stefan Airport, NE — 3 miles away, elevation 1,552 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 68702

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesTransplant · May 7 – May 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 14 – May 28
BeansSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 10 – Aug 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 21 – Oct 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 30) and first fall frost (Oct 5) 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 68702 came on Mar 18 — 18 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5).

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 5a in Nebraska

413 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Nebraska, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. 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 184

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 129

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 Norfolk, NE.

Soil in Norfolk, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 68702 is Muir — silty clay loam, well drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.6neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Muir silty clay loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes, rarely 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 68702; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Norfolk, NE

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days28days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights150nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,133base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 15 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 07 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation26.5 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 12 °F 33°12° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 16 °F 37°16° FebMarch: average high 50 °F, low 26 °F 50°26° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 37 °F 61°37° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 48 °F 72°48° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 63 °F 86°63° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 61 °F 84°61° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 51 °F 77°51° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 38 °F 64°38° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 25 °F 48°25° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 16 °F 36°16° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.50 in precipitation 0.5 JanFebruary: 0.55 in precipitation 0.6 FebMarch: 1.47 in precipitation 1.5 MarApril: 3.04 in precipitation 3.0 AprMay: 3.57 in precipitation 3.6 MayJune: 4.23 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 3.09 in precipitation 3.1 JulAugust: 3.74 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 2.20 in precipitation 2.2 SepOctober: 2.33 in precipitation 2.3 OctNovember: 1.12 in precipitation 1.1 NovDecember: 0.70 in precipitation 0.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Norfolk Karl Stefan Airport, NE (3 mi away); precipitation: Norfolk 1.7 Ne, NE (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

687015b
Norfolk, NE · 1 mi
687385a
Hadar, NE · 6 mi
687405b
Hoskins, NE · 10 mi
687155b
Battle Creek, NE · 10 mi
687795b
Stanton, NE · 12 mi
687675a
Pierce, NE · 13 mi
687485b
Madison, NE · 14 mi
687525b
Meadow Grove, NE · 15 mi

All 2 ZIP codes in Norfolk → · Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 68702

What planting zone is ZIP code 68702?

ZIP code 68702 (Norfolk, NE) is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −20 to −15 °F (−28.9 to −26.1 °C).

When is the last frost in Norfolk, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 68702 is April 30; after May 14 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Norfolk Karl Stefan Airport station.

When is the first frost in Norfolk, NE?

The median first fall frost near 68702 is October 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 157 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 68702?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 5 – Mar 19 and set transplants outside around May 7 – May 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 68702 get?

About 26.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Norfolk 1.7 Ne station).

How hot do summers get in Norfolk, NE?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 28 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 68702 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Muir at the center of ZIP 68702: silty clay loam, well drained, pH about 6.6 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Norfolk, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 68702 came on Mar 18 in 2026, 18 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Norfolk, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 68702 is 15 h 15 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).