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

Planting zone for 69032 — Hayes Center, NE

ZIP code 69032 (Hayes Center, Hayes County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 3 and the first fall frost October 10.

Where ZIP 69032 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostMay 3
First frostOct 10
2012 zone5b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Hayes Center, 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 Hayes Center, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 3median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 16only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 10median — 10% chance by Sep 27
Growing season159 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 22 and returns around October 19.

From the NOAA station Hayes Center 1nw, NE — 4 miles away, elevation 3,045 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 69032

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 12
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
TomatoesTransplant · May 10 – May 24
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 17 – May 31
BeansSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
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 (May 3) 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 69032 came on Feb 27 — 28 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 5b in Nebraska

420 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Nebraska, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. 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 55

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 190

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 7

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 °FVirginia creeper1 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °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 Hayes Center, NE.

Soil in Hayes Center, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 69032 is Jayem — loamy very fine sand, well drained.

TextureLoamy very fine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Jayem loamy very fine sand, 3 to 6 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 69032; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Hayes Center, NE

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low15 °Faverage low, January
Hot days42days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights157nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,069base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 05 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 16 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation21.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall30 inper year; 36 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 40 °F, low 15 °F 40°15° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 17 °F 43°17° FebMarch: average high 54 °F, low 25 °F 54°25° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 34 °F 62°34° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 45 °F 72°45° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 56 °F 83°56° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 61 °F 89°61° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 59 °F 87°59° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 50 °F 79°50° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 37 °F 66°37° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 25 °F 52°25° NovDecember: average high 41 °F, low 17 °F 41°17° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.38 in precipitation, 5.1 in snowfall 0.4❄5 JanFebruary: 0.53 in precipitation, 6.3 in snowfall 0.5❄6 FebMarch: 1.13 in precipitation, 4.2 in snowfall 1.1❄4 MarApril: 2.09 in precipitation, 3.7 in snowfall 2.1❄4 AprMay: 3.56 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.6 MayJune: 3.27 in precipitation 3.3 JunJuly: 3.26 in precipitation 3.3 JulAugust: 2.82 in precipitation 2.8 AugSeptember: 1.71 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.7 SepOctober: 1.67 in precipitation, 2.2 in snowfall 1.7❄2 OctNovember: 0.61 in precipitation, 3.5 in snowfall 0.6❄4 NovDecember: 0.48 in precipitation, 4.9 in snowfall 0.5❄5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Hayes Center 1nw, NE (4 mi away); precipitation: Hayes Center 1nw, NE (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

690405b
Palisade, NE · 16 mi
691325b
Dickens, NE · 17 mi
690385b
Maywood, NE · 17 mi
691695b
Wallace, NE · 18 mi
690455b
Wauneta, NE · 18 mi
691705b
Wellfleet, NE · 22 mi
691345b
Elsie, NE · 22 mi
690275b
Enders, NE · 25 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 69032

What planting zone is ZIP code 69032?

ZIP code 69032 (Hayes Center, NE) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in Hayes Center, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 69032 is May 3; after May 16 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hayes Center 1nw station.

When is the first frost in Hayes Center, NE?

The median first fall frost near 69032 is October 10, giving a median frost-free growing season of 159 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 69032?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 8 – Mar 22 and set transplants outside around May 10 – May 24, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 69032 get?

About 21.5 inches of precipitation a year and 30 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hayes Center 1nw station).

How hot do summers get in Hayes Center, NE?

The average high peaks at 89 °F in July, with about 42 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 69032 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Jayem at the center of ZIP 69032: loamy very fine sand, well drained, pH about 7.2 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Hayes Center, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 69032 came on Feb 27 in 2026, 28 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 27), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Hayes Center, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 69032 is 15 h 05 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).