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

Planting zone for 68942 — Guide Rock, NE

ZIP code 68942 (Guide Rock, Webster County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 1 and the first fall frost October 5.

Where ZIP 68942 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 frostMay 1
First frostOct 5
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 Guide Rock, 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 Guide Rock, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 14only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 5median — 10% chance by Sep 22
Growing season157 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 22 and returns around October 16.

From the NOAA station Red Cloud, NE — 11 miles away, elevation 1,732 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 68942

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
TomatoesTransplant · May 8 – May 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 15 – May 29
BeansSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
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 1) 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 68942 came on Mar 7 — 19 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 Guide Rock, NE.

Soil in Guide Rock, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 68942 is Hobbs — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.9neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Hobbs silt loam, occasionally flooded.

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 68942; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Guide Rock, NE

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days50days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights160nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,430base 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)
Precipitation26.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall15 inper year

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 42 °F, low 16 °F 42°16° FebMarch: average high 54 °F, low 25 °F 54°25° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 35 °F 64°35° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 47 °F 74°47° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 59 °F 86°59° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 64 °F 91°64° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 61 °F 88°61° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 51 °F 80°51° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 37 °F 67°37° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 25 °F 52°25° NovDecember: average high 40 °F, low 15 °F 40°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.68 in precipitation, 5.4 in snowfall 0.7❄5 JanFebruary: 0.75 in precipitation, 3.6 in snowfall 0.8❄4 FebMarch: 1.45 in precipitation, 2.5 in snowfall 1.4❄3 MarApril: 2.17 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 2.2 AprMay: 4.77 in precipitation 4.8 MayJune: 3.16 in precipitation 3.2 JunJuly: 4.31 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 2.89 in precipitation 2.9 AugSeptember: 1.97 in precipitation 2.0 SepOctober: 2.11 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 2.1 OctNovember: 1.09 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 1.1❄1 NovDecember: 0.93 in precipitation, 2 in snowfall 0.9❄2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Red Cloud, NE (11 mi away); precipitation: Guide Rock, NE (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

689705b
Red Cloud, NE · 11 mi
689786a
Superior, NE · 12 mi
669366a
Burr Oak, KS · 12 mi
689575b
Lawrence, NE · 13 mi
689305b
Blue Hill, NE · 14 mi
689616a
Nelson, NE · 17 mi
689525b
Inavale, NE · 19 mi
669706a
Webber, KS · 19 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 68942

What planting zone is ZIP code 68942?

ZIP code 68942 (Guide Rock, 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 Guide Rock, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 68942 is May 1; after May 14 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Red Cloud station.

When is the first frost in Guide Rock, NE?

The median first fall frost near 68942 is October 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 157 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 68942?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 6 – Mar 20 and set transplants outside around May 8 – May 22, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 68942 get?

About 26.3 inches of precipitation a year and 15 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Guide Rock station).

How hot do summers get in Guide Rock, NE?

The average high peaks at 91 °F in July, with about 50 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 68942 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Hobbs at the center of ZIP 68942: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.9 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Guide Rock, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 68942 came on Mar 7 in 2026, 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 26), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Guide Rock, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 68942 is 15 h 02 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 68942 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 68942 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.