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

Planting zone for 68981 — Upland, NE

ZIP code 68981 (Upland, Franklin County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost October 8.

Where ZIP 68981 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 30
First frostOct 8
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 Upland, 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 Upland, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 12only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 8median — 10% chance by Sep 25
Growing season161 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Franklin #2, NE — 14 miles away, elevation 1,860 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 68981

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesTransplant · May 7 – May 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 14 – May 28
BeansSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 13 – Aug 27
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 24 – Oct 29
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 30) and first fall frost (Oct 8) 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 68981 came on Mar 2 — 25 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 27).

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 Upland, NE.

Soil in Upland, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 68981 is Holdrege — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.2slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Holdrege silt loam, 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 68981; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Upland, NE

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days46days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights154nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,389base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 03 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)
Precipitation29.1 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 38 °F, low 14 °F 38°14° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 17 °F 43°17° FebMarch: average high 54 °F, low 26 °F 54°26° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 36 °F 64°36° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 48 °F 73°48° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 59 °F 84°59° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 64 °F 89°64° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 62 °F 87°62° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 52 °F 80°52° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 38 °F 67°38° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 25 °F 53°25° NovDecember: average high 41 °F, low 17 °F 41°17° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.71 in precipitation 0.7 JanFebruary: 0.72 in precipitation 0.7 FebMarch: 1.42 in precipitation 1.4 MarApril: 2.69 in precipitation 2.7 AprMay: 4.75 in precipitation 4.8 MayJune: 4.90 in precipitation 4.9 JunJuly: 4.28 in precipitation 4.3 JulAugust: 3.43 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 1.92 in precipitation 1.9 SepOctober: 2.24 in precipitation 2.2 OctNovember: 1.04 in precipitation 1.0 NovDecember: 0.95 in precipitation 0.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Franklin #2, NE (14 mi away); precipitation: Hildreth 4.5 Sse, NE (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

689326a
Campbell, NE · 8 mi
689476a
Hildreth, NE · 8 mi
689396a
Franklin, NE · 13 mi
689726a
Riverton, NE · 14 mi
689595b
Minden, NE · 14 mi
689296a
Bloomington, NE · 14 mi
689285b
Bladen, NE · 15 mi
689826a
Wilcox, NE · 16 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 68981

What planting zone is ZIP code 68981?

ZIP code 68981 (Upland, 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 Upland, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 68981 is April 30; after May 12 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Franklin #2 station.

When is the first frost in Upland, NE?

The median first fall frost near 68981 is October 8, giving a median frost-free growing season of 161 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 68981?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 5 – Mar 19 and set transplants outside around May 7 – May 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 68981 get?

About 29.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hildreth 4.5 Sse station).

How hot do summers get in Upland, NE?

The average high peaks at 89 °F in July, with about 46 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 68981 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Holdrege at the center of ZIP 68981: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Upland, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 68981 came on Mar 2 in 2026, 25 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 27), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Upland, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 68981 is 15 h 03 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 68981 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 68981 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.