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

Planting zone for 68783 — Verdigre, NE

ZIP code 68783 (Verdigre, Knox County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 5 and the first fall frost October 2.

Where ZIP 68783 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 5
First frostOct 2
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 Verdigre, 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 Verdigre, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 5median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 2median — 10% chance by Sep 19
Growing season148 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 27 and returns around October 11.

From the NOAA station Verdel 6sse, NE — 7 miles away, elevation 1,352 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 68783

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 14
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
TomatoesTransplant · May 12 – May 26
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 19 – Jun 2
BeansSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 7 – Aug 21
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 18 – Oct 23
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 5) and first fall frost (Oct 2) 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 68783 came on Mar 19 — 17 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 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 Verdigre, NE.

Soil in Verdigre, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 68783 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-Thurman complex, 17 to 30 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 68783; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Verdigre, NE

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low9 °Faverage low, January
Hot days36days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights174nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,943base 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)
Precipitation28 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 9 °F 32°9° JanFebruary: average high 36 °F, low 12 °F 36°12° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 23 °F 48°23° MarApril: average high 60 °F, low 33 °F 60°33° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 46 °F 71°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 60 °F 85°60° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 50 °F 77°50° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 36 °F 63°36° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 22 °F 48°22° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 13 °F 35°13° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.54 in precipitation 0.5 JanFebruary: 0.73 in precipitation 0.7 FebMarch: 1.45 in precipitation 1.4 MarApril: 3.07 in precipitation 3.1 AprMay: 3.91 in precipitation 3.9 MayJune: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 JunJuly: 3.78 in precipitation 3.8 JulAugust: 3.29 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 2.72 in precipitation 2.7 SepOctober: 2.72 in precipitation 2.7 OctNovember: 1.03 in precipitation 1.0 NovDecember: 0.83 in precipitation 0.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Verdel 6sse, NE (7 mi away); precipitation: Verdel 6sse, NE (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

687895a
Winnetoon, NE · 11 mi
687245a
Center, NE · 13 mi
687605a
Niobrara, NE · 14 mi
687295a
Creighton, NE · 16 mi
687645a
Orchard, NE · 17 mi
570625a
Springfield, SD · 18 mi
687735a
Royal, NE · 19 mi
687465a
Lynch, NE · 19 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 68783

What planting zone is ZIP code 68783?

ZIP code 68783 (Verdigre, 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 Verdigre, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 68783 is May 5; after May 18 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Verdel 6sse station.

When is the first frost in Verdigre, NE?

The median first fall frost near 68783 is October 2, giving a median frost-free growing season of 148 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 68783?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 10 – Mar 24 and set transplants outside around May 12 – May 26, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 68783 get?

About 28 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Verdel 6sse station).

How hot do summers get in Verdigre, NE?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 36 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 68783 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Crofton at the center of ZIP 68783: silt loam, well drained, pH about 7.9 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Verdigre, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 68783 came on Mar 19 in 2026, 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Verdigre, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 68783 is 15 h 19 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).