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

Planting zone for 69042 — Stockville, NE

ZIP code 69042 (Stockville, Frontier County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 4 and the first fall frost October 5.

Where ZIP 69042 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 4
First frostOct 5
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 Stockville, 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 Stockville, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 4median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 17only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 5median — 10% chance by Sep 23
Growing season154 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 26 and returns around October 13.

From the NOAA station Medicine Creek Dam, NE — 11 miles away, elevation 2,408 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 69042

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 13
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
TomatoesTransplant · May 11 – May 25
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 18 – Jun 1
BeansSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 10 – Aug 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 21 – Oct 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 4) and first fall frost (Oct 5) 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 69042 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 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 Stockville, NE.

Soil in Stockville, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 69042 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, 3 to 7 percent slopes, plains and breaks.

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 69042; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Stockville, NE

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days46days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights167nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,130base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 04 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)
Precipitation21.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall21 inper year; 27 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 12 °F 40°12° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 15 °F 43°15° FebMarch: average high 55 °F, low 24 °F 55°24° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 33 °F 63°33° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 45 °F 73°45° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 56 °F 84°56° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 62 °F 89°62° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 59 °F 87°59° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 50 °F 80°50° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 35 °F 67°35° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 22 °F 53°22° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 14 °F 42°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.35 in precipitation, 3.5 in snowfall 0.3❄4 JanFebruary: 0.62 in precipitation, 5.8 in snowfall 0.6❄6 FebMarch: 1.07 in precipitation, 2.9 in snowfall 1.1❄3 MarApril: 2.17 in precipitation, 2.5 in snowfall 2.2❄3 AprMay: 3.26 in precipitation 3.3 MayJune: 3.41 in precipitation 3.4 JunJuly: 3.44 in precipitation 3.4 JulAugust: 2.57 in precipitation 2.6 AugSeptember: 1.59 in precipitation 1.6 SepOctober: 1.66 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 1.7❄1 OctNovember: 0.86 in precipitation, 2.1 in snowfall 0.9❄2 NovDecember: 0.54 in precipitation, 3.4 in snowfall 0.5❄3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Medicine Creek Dam, NE (11 mi away); precipitation: Stockville, NE (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

690255b
Curtis, NE · 12 mi
690225b
Cambridge, NE · 14 mi
690295b
Farnam, NE · 16 mi
690345b
Indianola, NE · 16 mi
690395b
Moorefield, NE · 16 mi
690285b
Eustis, NE · 20 mi
689485b
Holbrook, NE · 21 mi
690385b
Maywood, NE · 21 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 69042

What planting zone is ZIP code 69042?

ZIP code 69042 (Stockville, 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 Stockville, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 69042 is May 4; after May 17 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Medicine Creek Dam station.

When is the first frost in Stockville, NE?

The median first fall frost near 69042 is October 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 154 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 69042?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 9 – Mar 23 and set transplants outside around May 11 – May 25, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 69042 get?

About 21.5 inches of precipitation a year and 21 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Stockville station).

How hot do summers get in Stockville, 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 69042 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Holdrege at the center of ZIP 69042: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Stockville, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 69042 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 Stockville, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 69042 is 15 h 04 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).