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

Planting zone for 69040 — Palisade, NE

ZIP code 69040 (Palisade, Hitchcock County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 29 and the first fall frost October 13.

Where ZIP 69040 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 frostApr 29
First frostOct 13
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 Palisade, 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 Palisade, 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 12only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 13median — 10% chance by Oct 1
Growing season166 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 16 and returns around October 22.

From the NOAA station Trenton Dam 1n, NE — 12 miles away, elevation 2,812 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 69040

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 18 – Sep 1
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 29 – Nov 3
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 29) and first fall frost (Oct 13) 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 69040 came on Feb 26 — 28 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 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 Palisade, NE.

Soil in Palisade, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 69040 is Haigler — loam, moderately well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.9alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Haigler and Sanborn loams, rarely flooded.

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 69040; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Palisade, NE

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low15 °Faverage low, January
Hot days58days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights158nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,461base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 03 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 17 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation20.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall21 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 42 °F, low 15 °F 42°15° JanFebruary: average high 45 °F, low 18 °F 45°18° FebMarch: average high 56 °F, low 27 °F 56°27° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 36 °F 64°36° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 47 °F 74°47° MayJune: average high 85 °F, low 58 °F 85°58° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 63 °F 91°63° 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 54 °F, low 25 °F 54°25° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 17 °F 43°17° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.37 in precipitation, 3.3 in snowfall 0.4❄3 JanFebruary: 0.49 in precipitation, 5.4 in snowfall 0.5❄5 FebMarch: 1.13 in precipitation, 3.3 in snowfall 1.1❄3 MarApril: 2.23 in precipitation, 2 in snowfall 2.2❄2 AprMay: 3.24 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.2 MayJune: 3.07 in precipitation 3.1 JunJuly: 3.13 in precipitation 3.1 JulAugust: 2.82 in precipitation 2.8 AugSeptember: 1.50 in precipitation 1.5 SepOctober: 1.52 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 1.5❄1 OctNovember: 0.68 in precipitation, 2.3 in snowfall 0.7❄2 NovDecember: 0.47 in precipitation, 3.2 in snowfall 0.5❄3 Dec

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

690455b
Wauneta, NE · 15 mi
690245b
Culbertson, NE · 16 mi
690325b
Hayes Center, NE · 16 mi
690446a
Trenton, NE · 16 mi
690435b
Stratton, NE · 17 mi
690375b
Max, NE · 19 mi
690275b
Enders, NE · 24 mi
690016a
Mc Cook, NE · 25 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 69040

What planting zone is ZIP code 69040?

ZIP code 69040 (Palisade, 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 Palisade, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 69040 is April 29; after May 12 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Trenton Dam 1n station.

When is the first frost in Palisade, NE?

The median first fall frost near 69040 is October 13, giving a median frost-free growing season of 166 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 69040?

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 69040 get?

About 20.6 inches of precipitation a year and 21 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Palisade station).

How hot do summers get in Palisade, NE?

The average high peaks at 91 °F in July, with about 58 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 69040 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Haigler at the center of ZIP 69040: loam, moderately well drained, pH about 7.9 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Palisade, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 69040 came on Feb 26 in 2026, 28 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 26), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Palisade, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 69040 is 15 h 03 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).