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

Planting zone for 68726 — Clearwater, NE

ZIP code 68726 (Clearwater, Antelope County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 7 and the first fall frost September 30.

Where ZIP 68726 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 frostMay 7
First frostSep 30
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 Clearwater, 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 Clearwater, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 7median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 30median — 10% chance by Sep 14
Growing season144 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 29 and returns around October 7.

From the NOAA station Ewing, NE — 9 miles away, elevation 1,854 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 68726

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 16
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
TomatoesTransplant · May 14 – May 28
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 21 – Jun 4
BeansSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 5 – Aug 19
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 16 – Oct 21
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 7) and first fall frost (Sep 30) 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 68726 came on Mar 18 — 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 4).

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 Clearwater, NE.

Soil in Clearwater, NE

The center of ZIP 68726 is mapped as Water: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.

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 68726; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Clearwater, NE

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low10 °Faverage low, January
Hot days28days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights162nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,090base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 16 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 06 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation26.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall29 inper year

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 35 °F, low 10 °F 35°10° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 14 °F 40°14° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 24 °F 52°24° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 34 °F 63°34° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 46 °F 73°46° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 56 °F 83°56° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 62 °F 88°62° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 59 °F 86°59° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 50 °F 79°50° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 36 °F 66°36° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 23 °F 49°23° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 14 °F 37°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.41 in precipitation, 5.3 in snowfall 0.4❄5 JanFebruary: 0.62 in precipitation, 5.5 in snowfall 0.6❄6 FebMarch: 1.30 in precipitation, 4.7 in snowfall 1.3❄5 MarApril: 3.05 in precipitation, 3.8 in snowfall 3.0❄4 AprMay: 4.60 in precipitation 4.6 MayJune: 4.00 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 3.53 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 2.93 in precipitation 2.9 AugSeptember: 2.31 in precipitation 2.3 SepOctober: 2.42 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 2.4❄1 OctNovember: 0.95 in precipitation, 4.4 in snowfall 0.9❄4 NovDecember: 0.67 in precipitation, 4.5 in snowfall 0.7❄5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ewing, NE (9 mi away); precipitation: Clearwater, 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.

687565a
Neligh, NE · 12 mi
687355a
Ewing, NE · 12 mi
686365b
Elgin, NE · 12 mi
687735a
Royal, NE · 13 mi
687205b
Brunswick, NE · 15 mi
687645a
Orchard, NE · 15 mi
687615a
Oakdale, NE · 17 mi
687425a
Inman, NE · 19 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 68726

What planting zone is ZIP code 68726?

ZIP code 68726 (Clearwater, 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 Clearwater, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 68726 is May 7; after May 21 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ewing station.

When is the first frost in Clearwater, NE?

The median first fall frost near 68726 is September 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 144 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 68726?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 12 – Mar 26 and set transplants outside around May 14 – May 28, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 68726 get?

About 26.8 inches of precipitation a year and 29 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Clearwater station).

How hot do summers get in Clearwater, NE?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 28 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Clearwater, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 68726 came on Mar 18 in 2026, 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 4), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Clearwater, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 68726 is 15 h 16 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).