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

Planting zone for 68929 — Bloomington, NE

ZIP code 68929 (Bloomington, Franklin County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 25 and the first fall frost October 14.

Where ZIP 68929 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostApr 25
First frostOct 14
2012 zone5b

Was 5b 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 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Bloomington, 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 Bloomington, 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 28
Growing season170 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Harlan Co. Lake, NE — 7 miles away, elevation 2,011 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 68929

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 68929 came on Mar 4 — 22 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 26).

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 6a in Nebraska

432 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Nebraska, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. 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 57

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 198

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 8

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 °Ftrumpet creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °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 Bloomington, NE.

Soil in Bloomington, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 68929 is Nuckolls — 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 matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Nuckolls and Holdrege soils, 3 to 11 percent slopes, eroded.

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 68929; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bloomington, NE

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days45days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights152nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,579base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 02 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 19 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation25.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall18 inper year; 29 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 39 °F, low 14 °F 39°14° JanFebruary: average high 44 °F, low 18 °F 44°18° FebMarch: average high 56 °F, low 27 °F 56°27° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 37 °F 65°37° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 49 °F 74°49° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 60 °F 85°60° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 65 °F 90°65° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 63 °F 88°63° AugSeptember: average high 81 °F, low 53 °F 81°53° SepOctober: average high 68 °F, low 39 °F 68°39° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 27 °F 54°27° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 18 °F 42°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.50 in precipitation, 3.6 in snowfall 0.5❄4 JanFebruary: 0.72 in precipitation, 6 in snowfall 0.7❄6 FebMarch: 1.32 in precipitation, 2.4 in snowfall 1.3❄2 MarApril: 2.35 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 2.4❄1 AprMay: 4.25 in precipitation 4.3 MayJune: 3.71 in precipitation 3.7 JunJuly: 3.88 in precipitation 3.9 JulAugust: 3.02 in precipitation 3.0 AugSeptember: 1.57 in precipitation 1.6 SepOctober: 2.14 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 2.1 OctNovember: 0.90 in precipitation, 1.6 in snowfall 0.9❄2 NovDecember: 0.79 in precipitation, 3.5 in snowfall 0.8❄4 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

689606a
Naponee, NE · 5 mi
689396a
Franklin, NE · 8 mi
689716a
Republican City, NE · 8 mi
689476a
Hildreth, NE · 10 mi
689206a
Alma, NE · 13 mi
689826a
Wilcox, NE · 13 mi
689816a
Upland, NE · 14 mi
689726a
Riverton, NE · 16 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 68929

What planting zone is ZIP code 68929?

ZIP code 68929 (Bloomington, NE) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Bloomington, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 68929 is April 25; after May 7 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Harlan Co. Lake station.

When is the first frost in Bloomington, NE?

The median first fall frost near 68929 is October 14, giving a median frost-free growing season of 170 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 68929?

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 68929 get?

About 25.1 inches of precipitation a year and 18 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Naponee station).

How hot do summers get in Bloomington, NE?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 45 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 68929 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Nuckolls at the center of ZIP 68929: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Bloomington, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 68929 came on Mar 4 in 2026, 22 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 26), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Bloomington, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 68929 is 15 h 02 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 68929 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 68929 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.