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

Planting zone for 68883 — Wood River, NE

ZIP code 68883 (Wood River, Hall County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 25 and the first fall frost October 14.

Where ZIP 68883 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 25
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 Wood River, 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 Wood River, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 25median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 7only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 14median — 10% chance by Sep 30
Growing season171 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 14 and returns around October 23.

From the NOAA station Hastings 4n, NE — 16 miles away, elevation 1,939 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 68883

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Apr 4
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
TomatoesTransplant · May 2 – May 16
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 9 – May 23
BeansSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
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 25) 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 68883 came on Mar 12 — 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 29).

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).

Soil in Wood River, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 68883 is Hall — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Hall silt loam, sandy substratum, 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 68883; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Wood River, NE

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low15 °Faverage low, January
Hot days32days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights145nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,359base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 06 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 14 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation28.4 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 36 °F, low 15 °F 36°15° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 19 °F 40°19° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 28 °F 52°28° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 38 °F 63°38° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 50 °F 73°50° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 60 °F 83°60° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 65 °F 87°65° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 62 °F 85°62° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 53 °F 78°53° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 40 °F 65°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

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 0.59 in precipitation 0.6 JanFebruary: 0.65 in precipitation 0.7 FebMarch: 1.43 in precipitation 1.4 MarApril: 2.41 in precipitation 2.4 AprMay: 5.22 in precipitation 5.2 MayJune: 3.85 in precipitation 3.9 JunJuly: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 3.65 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 2.55 in precipitation 2.5 SepOctober: 2.26 in precipitation 2.3 OctNovember: 1.39 in precipitation 1.4 NovDecember: 0.84 in precipitation 0.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Hastings 4n, NE (16 mi away); precipitation: Wood River 0.2 Nne, NE (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

688025b
Grand Island, NE · 5 mi
688105b
Alda, NE · 6 mi
688765b
Shelton, NE · 9 mi
688325b
Doniphan, NE · 12 mi
688035b
Grand Island, NE · 13 mi
688245b
Cairo, NE · 13 mi
689565b
Kenesaw, NE · 14 mi
689555b
Juniata, NE · 16 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 68883

What planting zone is ZIP code 68883?

ZIP code 68883 (Wood River, 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 Wood River, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 68883 is April 25; after May 7 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hastings 4n station.

When is the first frost in Wood River, NE?

The median first fall frost near 68883 is October 14, giving a median frost-free growing season of 171 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 68883?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 28 – Mar 14 and set transplants outside around May 2 – May 16, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 68883 get?

About 28.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wood River 0.2 Nne station).

How hot do summers get in Wood River, NE?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 32 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 68883 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Hall at the center of ZIP 68883: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Wood River, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 68883 came on Mar 12 in 2026, 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 29), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Wood River, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 68883 is 15 h 06 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).