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

Planting zone for 68814 — Ansley, NE

ZIP code 68814 (Ansley, Custer 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 68814 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 Ansley, 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 Ansley, 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 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 5median — 10% chance by Sep 23
Growing season153 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Mason City, NE — 9 miles away, elevation 2,293 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 68814

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 68814 came on Mar 10 — 22 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 1).

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 Ansley, NE.

Soil in Ansley, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 68814 is Hord — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.8neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Hord silt loam, 0 to 1 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 68814; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Ansley, NE

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days34days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights166nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,041base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 10 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 11 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation24 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 37 °F, low 13 °F 37°13° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 16 °F 40°16° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 25 °F 52°25° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 35 °F 62°35° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 47 °F 71°47° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 58 °F 82°58° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 63 °F 87°63° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 60 °F 85°60° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 50 °F 78°50° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 36 °F 65°36° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 24 °F 50°24° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 16 °F 39°16° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.46 in precipitation 0.5 JanFebruary: 0.26 in precipitation 0.3 FebMarch: 1.31 in precipitation 1.3 MarApril: 2.72 in precipitation 2.7 AprMay: 4.15 in precipitation 4.2 MayJune: 3.83 in precipitation 3.8 JunJuly: 3.13 in precipitation 3.1 JulAugust: 2.89 in precipitation 2.9 AugSeptember: 2.04 in precipitation 2.0 SepOctober: 1.66 in precipitation 1.7 OctNovember: 0.79 in precipitation 0.8 NovDecember: 0.73 in precipitation 0.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Mason City, NE (9 mi away); precipitation: Berwyn 5.9 Ssw, NE (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

688815b
Westerville, NE · 9 mi
688555b
Mason City, NE · 11 mi
688225b
Broken Bow, NE · 13 mi
688155b
Arcadia, NE · 16 mi
688525b
Litchfield, NE · 17 mi
688285b
Comstock, NE · 19 mi
688745a
Sargent, NE · 23 mi
688345b
Eddyville, NE · 24 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 68814

What planting zone is ZIP code 68814?

ZIP code 68814 (Ansley, 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 Ansley, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 68814 is May 3; after May 18 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mason City station.

When is the first frost in Ansley, NE?

The median first fall frost near 68814 is October 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 153 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 68814?

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 68814 get?

About 24 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Berwyn 5.9 Ssw station).

How hot do summers get in Ansley, NE?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 34 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 68814 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Hord at the center of ZIP 68814: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.8 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Ansley, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 68814 came on Mar 10 in 2026, 22 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 1), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Ansley, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 68814 is 15 h 10 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 68814 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 68814 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.