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

Planting zone for 69103 — North Platte, NE

ZIP code 69103 (North Platte, Lincoln 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 69103 is

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 zone5a

Was 5a on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. 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 North Platte, 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 North Platte, 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 15only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 10median — 10% chance by Sep 26
Growing season158 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 25 and returns around October 19.

From the NOAA station N Platte Exp Farm, NE — within 1 mile, elevation 3,025 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 69103

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 69103 came on Mar 7 — 23 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 30).

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 North Platte, NE.

Soil in North Platte, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 69103 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, 1 to 3 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 69103; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in North Platte, NE

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days32days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights163nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,911base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 08 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 13 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation21.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall28 inper year; 32 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 37 °F, low 14 °F 37°14° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 16 °F 41°16° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 25 °F 52°25° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 33 °F 61°33° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 45 °F 70°45° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 56 °F 81°56° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 61 °F 87°61° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 59 °F 85°59° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 50 °F 78°50° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 37 °F 64°37° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 24 °F 50°24° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 16 °F 39°16° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.32 in precipitation, 5 in snowfall 0.3❄5 JanFebruary: 0.48 in precipitation, 5.9 in snowfall 0.5❄6 FebMarch: 0.98 in precipitation, 4 in snowfall 1.0❄4 MarApril: 2.25 in precipitation, 4.6 in snowfall 2.3❄5 AprMay: 3.50 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.5 MayJune: 3.70 in precipitation 3.7 JunJuly: 3.03 in precipitation 3.0 JulAugust: 2.53 in precipitation 2.5 AugSeptember: 1.69 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.7 SepOctober: 1.78 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 1.8❄1 OctNovember: 0.53 in precipitation, 3.4 in snowfall 0.5❄3 NovDecember: 0.42 in precipitation, 3.8 in snowfall 0.4❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: N Platte Exp Farm, NE (within 1 mile); precipitation: N Platte Exp Farm, NE (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

691015b
North Platte, NE · 8 mi
691515b
Maxwell, NE · 13 mi
691705b
Wellfleet, NE · 17 mi
691435b
Hershey, NE · 17 mi
691235b
Brady, NE · 20 mi
691325b
Dickens, NE · 21 mi
691655b
Sutherland, NE · 23 mi
691695b
Wallace, NE · 27 mi

All 2 ZIP codes in North Platte → · Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 69103

What planting zone is ZIP code 69103?

ZIP code 69103 (North Platte, 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 North Platte, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 69103 is May 3; after May 15 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, N Platte Exp Farm station.

When is the first frost in North Platte, NE?

The median first fall frost near 69103 is October 10, giving a median frost-free growing season of 158 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 69103?

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 69103 get?

About 21.2 inches of precipitation a year and 28 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, N Platte Exp Farm station).

How hot do summers get in North Platte, NE?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 32 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 69103 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Holdrege at the center of ZIP 69103: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.2 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in North Platte, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 69103 came on Mar 7 in 2026, 23 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 30), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in North Platte, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 69103 is 15 h 08 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 69103 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 69103 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.