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

Planting zone for 68724 — Center, NE

ZIP code 68724 (Center, Knox 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 6.

Where ZIP 68724 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.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
Coldest night−28.9 to −26.1 °C
Last frostApr 30
First frostOct 6
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 Center, 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 Center, 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 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 6median — 10% chance by Sep 24
Growing season158 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Creighton, NE — 12 miles away, elevation 1,660 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 68724

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 11 – Aug 25
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 22 – Oct 27
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 30) and first fall frost (Oct 6) 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 68724 came on Mar 19 — 17 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 Center, NE.

Soil in Center, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 68724 is Monowi — silty clay, well drained.

TextureSilty clayholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.6slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Monowi-Verdel silty clays, 6 to 15 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 68724; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Center, NE

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low11 °Faverage low, January
Hot days32days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights150nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,045base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 19 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 03 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation29.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall36 inper year

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 31 °F, low 11 °F 31°11° JanFebruary: average high 36 °F, low 14 °F 36°14° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 24 °F 48°24° MarApril: average high 60 °F, low 35 °F 60°35° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 48 °F 71°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 60 °F 84°60° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 51 °F 77°51° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 37 °F 64°37° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 25 °F 48°25° NovDecember: average high 34 °F, low 15 °F 34°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.60 in precipitation, 7.1 in snowfall 0.6❄7 JanFebruary: 0.79 in precipitation, 8.4 in snowfall 0.8❄8 FebMarch: 1.67 in precipitation, 7.9 in snowfall 1.7❄8 MarApril: 3.04 in precipitation, 2.5 in snowfall 3.0❄3 AprMay: 4.29 in precipitation 4.3 MayJune: 4.27 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 3.53 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 3.07 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 2.26 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 2.3❄1 OctNovember: 1.01 in precipitation, 2.7 in snowfall 1.0❄3 NovDecember: 0.95 in precipitation, 6 in snowfall 0.9❄6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Creighton, NE (12 mi away); precipitation: Creighton, NE (12 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.

687605a
Niobrara, NE · 6 mi
687895a
Winnetoon, NE · 8 mi
687185b
Bloomfield, NE · 10 mi
687295a
Creighton, NE · 10 mi
687835a
Verdigre, NE · 13 mi
570625a
Springfield, SD · 15 mi
687865b
Wausa, NE · 19 mi
687305a
Crofton, NE · 20 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 68724

What planting zone is ZIP code 68724?

ZIP code 68724 (Center, 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 Center, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 68724 is April 30; after May 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Creighton station.

When is the first frost in Center, NE?

The median first fall frost near 68724 is October 6, giving a median frost-free growing season of 158 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 68724?

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 68724 get?

About 29.1 inches of precipitation a year and 36 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Creighton station).

How hot do summers get in Center, NE?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 32 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 68724 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Monowi at the center of ZIP 68724: silty clay, well drained, pH about 7.6 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Center, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 68724 came on Mar 19 in 2026, 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Center, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 68724 is 15 h 19 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).