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

Planting zone for 68734 — Emmet, NE

ZIP code 68734 (Emmet, Holt County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 3 and the first fall frost October 5.

Where ZIP 68734 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 frostMay 3
First frostOct 5
2012 zone5a

Was 5a 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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Emmet, 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 Emmet, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 3median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 16only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 5median — 10% chance by Sep 22
Growing season155 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 23 and returns around October 15.

From the NOAA station O'Neill, NE — 7 miles away, elevation 1,992 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 68734

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 12
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
TomatoesTransplant · May 10 – May 24
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 17 – May 31
BeansSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
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 (May 3) 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 68734 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 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 Emmet, NE.

Soil in Emmet, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 68734 is Elsmere — loamy fine sand, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureLoamy fine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Elsmere loamy fine sand, 0 to 3 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 68734; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Emmet, NE

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low11 °Faverage low, January
Hot days32days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights165nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,912base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 18 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 04 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation27.7 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 32 °F, low 11 °F 32°11° JanFebruary: average high 36 °F, low 14 °F 36°14° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 23 °F 47°23° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 34 °F 58°34° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 46 °F 70°46° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 57 °F 81°57° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 62 °F 87°62° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 59 °F 85°59° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 50 °F 77°50° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 36 °F 62°36° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 24 °F 47°24° NovDecember: average high 34 °F, low 15 °F 34°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.66 in precipitation 0.7 JanFebruary: 0.77 in precipitation 0.8 FebMarch: 1.33 in precipitation 1.3 MarApril: 3.14 in precipitation 3.1 AprMay: 4.55 in precipitation 4.5 MayJune: 3.60 in precipitation 3.6 JunJuly: 3.50 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 4.05 in precipitation 4.0 AugSeptember: 2.34 in precipitation 2.3 SepOctober: 2.14 in precipitation 2.1 OctNovember: 0.86 in precipitation 0.9 NovDecember: 0.80 in precipitation 0.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: O'Neill, NE (7 mi away); precipitation: Oneill 0.6 Wnw, NE (7 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.

687135a
Atkinson, NE · 12 mi
687635b
Oneill, NE · 12 mi
687255a
Chambers, NE · 16 mi
687425a
Inman, NE · 16 mi
687665b
Page, NE · 20 mi
687115a
Amelia, NE · 20 mi
687805a
Stuart, NE · 22 mi
687355a
Ewing, NE · 27 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 68734

What planting zone is ZIP code 68734?

ZIP code 68734 (Emmet, 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 Emmet, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 68734 is May 3; after May 16 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, O'Neill station.

When is the first frost in Emmet, NE?

The median first fall frost near 68734 is October 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 155 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 68734?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 8 – Mar 22 and set transplants outside around May 10 – May 24, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 68734 get?

About 27.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Oneill 0.6 Wnw station).

How hot do summers get in Emmet, NE?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 32 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 68734 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Elsmere at the center of ZIP 68734: loamy fine sand, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Emmet, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 68734 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 Emmet, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 68734 is 15 h 18 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 68734 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 68734 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.