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

Planting zone for 68752 — Meadow Grove, NE

ZIP code 68752 (Meadow Grove, Madison County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 1 and the first fall frost October 4.

Where ZIP 68752 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 1
First frostOct 4
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 Meadow Grove, 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 Meadow Grove, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 16only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 4median — 10% chance by Sep 22
Growing season156 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 21 and returns around October 15.

From the NOAA station Norfolk 4w, NE — 12 miles away, elevation 1,545 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 68752

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
TomatoesTransplant · May 8 – May 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 15 – May 29
BeansSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
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 1) 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 68752 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 Meadow Grove, NE.

Soil in Meadow Grove, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 68752 is Ord — fine sandy loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.9alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Ord fine sandy loam, occasionally flooded.

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 68752; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Meadow Grove, NE

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low10 °Faverage low, January
Hot days19days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights160nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,947base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 15 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 07 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation27.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall26 inper year; 49 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 32 °F, low 10 °F 32°10° JanFebruary: average high 36 °F, low 14 °F 36°14° FebMarch: average high 49 °F, low 25 °F 49°25° MarApril: average high 60 °F, low 35 °F 60°35° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 48 °F 71°48° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 58 °F 81°58° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 63 °F 85°63° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 60 °F 82°60° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 51 °F 76°51° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 37 °F 63°37° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 24 °F 47°24° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 14 °F 35°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.50 in precipitation, 6.4 in snowfall 0.5❄6 JanFebruary: 0.70 in precipitation, 5.7 in snowfall 0.7❄6 FebMarch: 1.42 in precipitation, 3.8 in snowfall 1.4❄4 MarApril: 2.90 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 2.9❄1 AprMay: 4.12 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.1 MayJune: 4.54 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 3.09 in precipitation 3.1 JulAugust: 3.89 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 2.21 in precipitation 2.2 SepOctober: 2.31 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 2.3❄1 OctNovember: 1.31 in precipitation, 2.2 in snowfall 1.3❄2 NovDecember: 0.88 in precipitation, 6.4 in snowfall 0.9❄6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Norfolk 4w, NE (12 mi away); precipitation: Norfolk 4w, NE (12 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

687155b
Battle Creek, NE · 6 mi
687815a
Tilden, NE · 7 mi
687615a
Oakdale, NE · 13 mi
687015b
Norfolk, NE · 14 mi
687385a
Hadar, NE · 15 mi
687025a
Norfolk, NE · 15 mi
687675a
Pierce, NE · 15 mi
687585b
Newman Grove, NE · 17 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 68752

What planting zone is ZIP code 68752?

ZIP code 68752 (Meadow Grove, 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 Meadow Grove, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 68752 is May 1; after May 16 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Norfolk 4w station.

When is the first frost in Meadow Grove, NE?

The median first fall frost near 68752 is October 4, giving a median frost-free growing season of 156 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 68752?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 6 – Mar 20 and set transplants outside around May 8 – May 22, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 68752 get?

About 27.9 inches of precipitation a year and 26 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Norfolk 4w station).

How hot do summers get in Meadow Grove, NE?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 19 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 68752 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Ord at the center of ZIP 68752: fine sandy loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 7.9 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Meadow Grove, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 68752 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 Meadow Grove, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 68752 is 15 h 15 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 68752 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 68752 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.