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

Planting zone for 69043 — Stratton, NE

ZIP code 69043 (Stratton, 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 69043 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 Stratton, 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 Stratton, 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 — 11 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 69043

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 69043 came on Feb 26 — 26 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 24).

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 Stratton, NE.

Soil in Stratton, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 69043 is Bayard — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains 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 classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Bayard fine sandy loam, 0 to 1 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 69043; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Stratton, 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 02 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 19 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation19.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall20 inper year

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: 0.35 in precipitation, 4.6 in snowfall 0.3❄5 JanFebruary: 0.44 in precipitation, 4.9 in snowfall 0.4❄5 FebMarch: 0.83 in precipitation, 3.7 in snowfall 0.8❄4 MarApril: 1.90 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 1.9❄1 AprMay: 3.02 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.0 MayJune: 2.99 in precipitation 3.0 JunJuly: 3.38 in precipitation 3.4 JulAugust: 3.02 in precipitation 3.0 AugSeptember: 1.48 in precipitation 1.5 SepOctober: 1.49 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 1.5❄1 OctNovember: 0.52 in precipitation, 2.2 in snowfall 0.5❄2 NovDecember: 0.50 in precipitation, 2.8 in snowfall 0.5❄3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Trenton Dam 1n, NE (11 mi away); precipitation: Stratton, NE (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

690375b
Max, NE · 9 mi
690446a
Trenton, NE · 13 mi
690215b
Benkelman, NE · 15 mi
690405b
Palisade, NE · 17 mi
677456a
Mc Donald, KS · 23 mi
677306a
Atwood, KS · 23 mi
690455b
Wauneta, NE · 24 mi
690415b
Parks, NE · 25 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 69043

What planting zone is ZIP code 69043?

ZIP code 69043 (Stratton, 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 Stratton, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 69043 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 Stratton, NE?

The median first fall frost near 69043 is October 13, giving a median frost-free growing season of 166 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 69043?

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 69043 get?

About 19.9 inches of precipitation a year and 20 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Stratton station).

How hot do summers get in Stratton, 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 69043 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Bayard at the center of ZIP 69043: fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 7.2 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Stratton, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 69043 came on Feb 26 in 2026, 26 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 24), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Stratton, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 69043 is 15 h 02 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).