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

Planting zone for 68961 — Nelson, NE

ZIP code 68961 (Nelson, Nuckolls County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 29 and the first fall frost October 10.

Where ZIP 68961 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 29
First frostOct 10
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 Nelson, 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 Nelson, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 29median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 10only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 10median — 10% chance by Sep 26
Growing season162 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 19 and returns around October 19.

From the NOAA station Superior, NE — 12 miles away, elevation 1,513 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 68961

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
TomatoesTransplant · May 6 – May 20
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 13 – May 27
BeansSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 15 – Aug 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 26 – Oct 31
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 29) and first fall frost (Oct 10) 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 68961 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 Nelson, NE.

Soil in Nelson, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 68961 is Geary — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.1slightly acidic; 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: Geary silt loam, 3 to 7 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 68961; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Nelson, NE

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days50days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights142nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,470base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 02 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 18 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation28 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall23 inper year; 28 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 37 °F, low 14 °F 37°14° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 17 °F 42°17° FebMarch: average high 53 °F, low 27 °F 53°27° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 37 °F 64°37° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 49 °F 74°49° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 60 °F 85°60° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 65 °F 89°65° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 62 °F 86°62° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 53 °F 80°53° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 39 °F 67°39° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 26 °F 52°26° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 17 °F 39°17° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.65 in precipitation, 6.1 in snowfall 0.7❄6 JanFebruary: 0.74 in precipitation, 6.4 in snowfall 0.7❄6 FebMarch: 1.43 in precipitation, 3.6 in snowfall 1.4❄4 MarApril: 2.48 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 2.5❄1 AprMay: 4.54 in precipitation 4.5 MayJune: 3.78 in precipitation 3.8 JunJuly: 4.19 in precipitation 4.2 JulAugust: 3.62 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 2.42 in precipitation 2.4 SepOctober: 2.09 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 2.1❄1 OctNovember: 1.22 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 1.2❄1 NovDecember: 0.83 in precipitation, 3.9 in snowfall 0.8❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Superior, NE (12 mi away); precipitation: Nelson, NE (within 1 mile). 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.

689646a
Oak, NE · 8 mi
689786a
Superior, NE · 10 mi
689346a
Deweese, NE · 11 mi
689746a
Ruskin, NE · 11 mi
689575b
Lawrence, NE · 12 mi
689356a
Edgar, NE · 12 mi
683356a
Davenport, NE · 14 mi
689386a
Fairfield, NE · 15 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 68961

What planting zone is ZIP code 68961?

ZIP code 68961 (Nelson, 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 Nelson, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 68961 is April 29; after May 10 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Superior station.

When is the first frost in Nelson, NE?

The median first fall frost near 68961 is October 10, giving a median frost-free growing season of 162 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 68961?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 4 – Mar 18 and set transplants outside around May 6 – May 20, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 68961 get?

About 28 inches of precipitation a year and 23 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Nelson station).

How hot do summers get in Nelson, NE?

The average high peaks at 89 °F in July, with about 50 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 68961 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Geary at the center of ZIP 68961: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.1 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Nelson, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 68961 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 Nelson, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 68961 is 15 h 02 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 68961 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 68961 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.