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

Planting zone for 68745 — Laurel, NE

ZIP code 68745 (Laurel, Cedar County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 2 and the first fall frost October 4.

Where ZIP 68745 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 2
First frostOct 4
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 Laurel, 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 Laurel, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 2median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 16only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 4median — 10% chance by Sep 20
Growing season154 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 23 and returns around October 14.

From the NOAA station Concord, NE — 7 miles away, elevation 1,444 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 68745

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 11
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
TomatoesTransplant · May 9 – May 23
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 16 – May 30
BeansSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 9 – Aug 23
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 20 – Oct 25
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 2) and first fall frost (Oct 4) 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 68745 came on Mar 19 — 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7).

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 Laurel, NE.

Soil in Laurel, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 68745 is Crofton — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH8.0alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Crofton-Nora complex, 6 to 11 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 68745; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Laurel, NE

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low9 °Faverage low, January
Hot days24days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights164nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,006base 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)
Precipitation28.8 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 31 °F, low 9 °F 31°9° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 13 °F 35°13° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 24 °F 48°24° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 34 °F 61°34° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 46 °F 73°46° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 62 °F 85°62° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 61 °F 84°61° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 50 °F 77°50° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 37 °F 64°37° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 24 °F 48°24° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 13 °F 35°13° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.64 in precipitation 0.6 JanFebruary: 0.99 in precipitation 1.0 FebMarch: 1.58 in precipitation 1.6 MarApril: 2.79 in precipitation 2.8 AprMay: 4.00 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 4.57 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 3.09 in precipitation 3.1 JulAugust: 3.51 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 2.94 in precipitation 2.9 SepOctober: 2.47 in precipitation 2.5 OctNovember: 1.28 in precipitation 1.3 NovDecember: 0.96 in precipitation 1.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Concord, NE (7 mi away); precipitation: Concord, NE (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

687325a
Dixon, NE · 6 mi
687275a
Coleridge, NE · 7 mi
687175a
Belden, NE · 9 mi
687285a
Concord, NE · 9 mi
687105a
Allen, NE · 12 mi
687235b
Carroll, NE · 14 mi
687715b
Randolph, NE · 15 mi
687395b
Hartington, NE · 15 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 68745

What planting zone is ZIP code 68745?

ZIP code 68745 (Laurel, 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 Laurel, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 68745 is May 2; after May 16 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Concord station.

When is the first frost in Laurel, NE?

The median first fall frost near 68745 is October 4, giving a median frost-free growing season of 154 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 68745?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 7 – Mar 21 and set transplants outside around May 9 – May 23, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 68745 get?

About 28.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Concord station).

How hot do summers get in Laurel, NE?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 24 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 68745 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Crofton at the center of ZIP 68745: silt loam, well drained, pH about 8.0 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Laurel, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 68745 came on Mar 19 in 2026, 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Laurel, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 68745 is 15 h 18 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).