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

Planting zone for 69034 — Indianola, NE

ZIP code 69034 (Indianola, Red Willow County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 1 and the first fall frost October 9.

Where ZIP 69034 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 1
First frostOct 9
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 Indianola, 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 Indianola, 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 15only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 9median — 10% chance by Sep 26
Growing season160 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Mccook Municipal Airport, NE — 9 miles away, elevation 2,530 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 69034

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 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 1) 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 69034 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 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 Indianola, NE.

Soil in Indianola, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 69034 is Hord — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.8neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Hord silt loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes, warm.

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 69034; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Indianola, NE

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days61days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights154nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,508base 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)
Precipitation21.9 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 41 °F, low 16 °F 41°16° JanFebruary: average high 45 °F, low 19 °F 45°19° FebMarch: average high 56 °F, low 27 °F 56°27° MarApril: average high 65 °F, low 36 °F 65°36° AprMay: average high 75 °F, low 48 °F 75°48° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 58 °F 86°58° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 64 °F 91°64° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 62 °F 89°62° AugSeptember: average high 81 °F, low 52 °F 81°52° SepOctober: average high 68 °F, low 38 °F 68°38° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 25 °F 53°25° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 17 °F 42°17° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.38 in precipitation 0.4 JanFebruary: 0.59 in precipitation 0.6 FebMarch: 1.17 in precipitation 1.2 MarApril: 2.19 in precipitation 2.2 AprMay: 3.10 in precipitation 3.1 MayJune: 3.26 in precipitation 3.3 JunJuly: 3.48 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 3.16 in precipitation 3.2 AugSeptember: 1.67 in precipitation 1.7 SepOctober: 1.66 in precipitation 1.7 OctNovember: 0.69 in precipitation 0.7 NovDecember: 0.60 in precipitation 0.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Mccook Municipal Airport, NE (9 mi away); precipitation: Indianola 2.2 Nw, NE (within 1 mile). 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.

690205b
Bartley, NE · 11 mi
690016a
Mc Cook, NE · 12 mi
690225b
Cambridge, NE · 14 mi
690266a
Danbury, NE · 16 mi
690425b
Stockville, NE · 16 mi
690366a
Lebanon, NE · 17 mi
690466a
Wilsonville, NE · 21 mi
689485b
Holbrook, NE · 22 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 69034

What planting zone is ZIP code 69034?

ZIP code 69034 (Indianola, 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 Indianola, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 69034 is May 1; after May 15 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mccook Municipal Airport station.

When is the first frost in Indianola, NE?

The median first fall frost near 69034 is October 9, giving a median frost-free growing season of 160 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 69034?

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 69034 get?

About 21.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Indianola 2.2 Nw station).

How hot do summers get in Indianola, NE?

The average high peaks at 91 °F in July, with about 61 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 69034 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Hord at the center of ZIP 69034: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.8 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Indianola, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 69034 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 Indianola, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 69034 is 15 h 03 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).