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

Planting zone for 68751 — Maskell, NE

ZIP code 68751 (Maskell, Dixon County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 3 and the first fall frost October 3.

Where ZIP 68751 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 3
First frostOct 3
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 Maskell, 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 Maskell, 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 3median — 10% chance by Sep 20
Growing season153 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 24 and returns around October 15.

From the NOAA station Vermillion 2 Se, SD — 6 miles away, elevation 1,139 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 68751

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 8 – Aug 22
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 19 – Oct 24
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 3) and first fall frost (Oct 3) 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 68751 came on Mar 23 — 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 6).

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 Maskell, NE.

Soil in Maskell, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 68751 is Crofton — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.9alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Crofton silt loam, 8 to 17 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 68751; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Maskell, NE

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low10 °Faverage low, January
Hot days29days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights152nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,160base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 19 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 02 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation30.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall36 inper year; 62 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 31 °F, low 10 °F 31°10° JanFebruary: average high 36 °F, low 14 °F 36°14° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 25 °F 48°25° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 36 °F 62°36° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 48 °F 73°48° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 63 °F 86°63° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 61 °F 83°61° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 52 °F 78°52° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 39 °F 65°39° 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: 0.68 in precipitation, 6.2 in snowfall 0.7❄6 JanFebruary: 0.87 in precipitation, 6.6 in snowfall 0.9❄7 FebMarch: 1.75 in precipitation, 5.8 in snowfall 1.8❄6 MarApril: 3.49 in precipitation, 3.5 in snowfall 3.5❄4 AprMay: 4.26 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 4.3 MayJune: 4.52 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 3.19 in precipitation 3.2 JulAugust: 3.43 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.01 in precipitation 3.0 SepOctober: 2.55 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 2.5❄1 OctNovember: 1.52 in precipitation, 5.6 in snowfall 1.5❄6 NovDecember: 0.99 in precipitation, 7.4 in snowfall 1.0❄7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Vermillion 2 Se, SD (6 mi away); precipitation: Newcastle, NE (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

687575a
Newcastle, NE · 4 mi
687925a
Wynot, NE · 7 mi
570695a
Vermillion, SD · 11 mi
570105a
Burbank, SD · 12 mi
687325a
Dixon, NE · 14 mi
687705a
Ponca, NE · 14 mi
570255a
Elk Point, SD · 15 mi
570315a
Gayville, SD · 16 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 68751

What planting zone is ZIP code 68751?

ZIP code 68751 (Maskell, 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 Maskell, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 68751 is May 3; after May 16 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Vermillion 2 Se station.

When is the first frost in Maskell, NE?

The median first fall frost near 68751 is October 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 153 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 68751?

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 68751 get?

About 30.3 inches of precipitation a year and 36 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Newcastle station).

How hot do summers get in Maskell, NE?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 29 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 68751 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Crofton at the center of ZIP 68751: silt loam, well drained, pH about 7.9 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Maskell, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 68751 came on Mar 23 in 2026, 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 6), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Maskell, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 68751 is 15 h 19 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).