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

Planting zone for 69001 — Mc Cook, NE

ZIP code 69001 (Mc Cook, Red Willow County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 2 and the first fall frost October 9.

Where ZIP 69001 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 2
First frostOct 9
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 Mc Cook, 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 Mc Cook, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 2median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 14only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 9median — 10% chance by Sep 26
Growing season159 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 21 and returns around October 19.

From the NOAA station Mc Cook, NE — 3 miles away, elevation 2,602 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 69001

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 11
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
TomatoesTransplant · May 9 – May 23
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 16 – May 30
BeansSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 14 – Aug 28
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 25 – Oct 30
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 2) and first fall frost (Oct 9) 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 69001 came on Feb 27 — 26 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 25).

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 Mc Cook, NE.

Soil in Mc Cook, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 69001 is Keith — 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 classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Keith silt loam, 1 to 3 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 69001; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Mc Cook, NE

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days51days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights156nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,293base 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)
Precipitation22.9 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 42 °F, low 14 °F 42°14° JanFebruary: average high 45 °F, low 16 °F 45°16° FebMarch: average high 56 °F, low 25 °F 56°25° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 34 °F 65°34° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 45 °F 74°45° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 56 °F 86°56° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 62 °F 91°62° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 60 °F 88°60° AugSeptember: average high 81 °F, low 50 °F 81°50° SepOctober: average high 68 °F, low 36 °F 68°36° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 24 °F 54°24° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 16 °F 43°16° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.49 in precipitation 0.5 JanFebruary: 0.50 in precipitation 0.5 FebMarch: 1.43 in precipitation 1.4 MarApril: 2.53 in precipitation 2.5 AprMay: 3.14 in precipitation 3.1 MayJune: 3.14 in precipitation 3.1 JunJuly: 3.51 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 3.45 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 1.56 in precipitation 1.6 SepOctober: 1.69 in precipitation 1.7 OctNovember: 0.72 in precipitation 0.7 NovDecember: 0.73 in precipitation 0.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Mc Cook, NE (3 mi away); precipitation: Mccook 4.6 Nnw, NE (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

690245b
Culbertson, NE · 11 mi
690345b
Indianola, NE · 12 mi
690266a
Danbury, NE · 20 mi
690425b
Stockville, NE · 21 mi
690205b
Bartley, NE · 22 mi
690366a
Lebanon, NE · 25 mi
690385b
Maywood, NE · 25 mi
690255b
Curtis, NE · 27 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 69001

What planting zone is ZIP code 69001?

ZIP code 69001 (Mc Cook, 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 Mc Cook, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 69001 is May 2; after May 14 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mc Cook station.

When is the first frost in Mc Cook, NE?

The median first fall frost near 69001 is October 9, giving a median frost-free growing season of 159 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 69001?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 7 – Mar 21 and set transplants outside around May 9 – May 23, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 69001 get?

About 22.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mccook 4.6 Nnw station).

How hot do summers get in Mc Cook, NE?

The average high peaks at 91 °F in July, with about 51 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 69001 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Keith at the center of ZIP 69001: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Mc Cook, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 69001 came on Feb 27 in 2026, 26 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 25), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Mc Cook, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 69001 is 15 h 03 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 69001 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 69001 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.