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

Planting zone for 68873 — Saint Paul, NE

ZIP code 68873 (Saint Paul, Howard County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 23 and the first fall frost October 14.

Where ZIP 68873 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 frostApr 23
First frostOct 14
2012 zone5b

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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Saint Paul, 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 Saint Paul, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 23median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 7only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 14median — 10% chance by Sep 28
Growing season172 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 13 and returns around October 23.

From the NOAA station Saint Paul, NE — 2 miles away, elevation 1,811 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 68873

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Apr 2
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 30 – May 14
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 7 – May 21
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 19 – Sep 2
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 30 – Nov 4
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 23) and first fall frost (Oct 14) 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 68873 came on Mar 12 — 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31).

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 Saint Paul, NE.

Soil in Saint Paul, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 68873 is Simeon — loamy sand, excessively drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Simeon loamy sand, 0 to 3 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 68873; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Saint Paul, NE

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days40days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights145nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,532base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 09 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 12 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation27.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall22 inper year; 37 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 35 °F, low 14 °F 35°14° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 18 °F 41°18° FebMarch: average high 54 °F, low 28 °F 54°28° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 38 °F 65°38° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 50 °F 74°50° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 60 °F 84°60° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 65 °F 89°65° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 63 °F 87°63° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 54 °F 80°54° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 40 °F 67°40° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 28 °F 50°28° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 18 °F 38°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.55 in precipitation, 4.7 in snowfall 0.6❄5 JanFebruary: 0.70 in precipitation, 6.2 in snowfall 0.7❄6 FebMarch: 1.57 in precipitation, 3 in snowfall 1.6❄3 MarApril: 2.73 in precipitation, 1.8 in snowfall 2.7❄2 AprMay: 4.47 in precipitation 4.5 MayJune: 4.01 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 3.47 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 3.47 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 2.13 in precipitation 2.1 SepOctober: 2.18 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 2.2 OctNovember: 1.18 in precipitation, 2.2 in snowfall 1.2❄2 NovDecember: 0.86 in precipitation, 4.1 in snowfall 0.9❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Saint Paul, NE (2 mi away); precipitation: Saint Paul, NE (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

688315b
Dannebrog, NE · 10 mi
688355b
Elba, NE · 11 mi
688385b
Farwell, NE · 11 mi
688645b
Palmer, NE · 11 mi
688725b
Saint Libory, NE · 12 mi
688825b
Wolbach, NE · 14 mi
688205b
Boelus, NE · 16 mi
688165b
Archer, NE · 17 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 68873

What planting zone is ZIP code 68873?

ZIP code 68873 (Saint Paul, 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 Saint Paul, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 68873 is April 23; after May 7 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Saint Paul station.

When is the first frost in Saint Paul, NE?

The median first fall frost near 68873 is October 14, giving a median frost-free growing season of 172 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 68873?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 26 – Mar 12 and set transplants outside around Apr 30 – May 14, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 68873 get?

About 27.3 inches of precipitation a year and 22 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Saint Paul station).

How hot do summers get in Saint Paul, NE?

The average high peaks at 89 °F in July, with about 40 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 68873 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Simeon at the center of ZIP 68873: loamy sand, excessively drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Saint Paul, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 68873 came on Mar 12 in 2026, 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Saint Paul, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 68873 is 15 h 09 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).