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

Planting zone for 69120 — Arnold, NE

ZIP code 69120 (Arnold, Custer County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 5 and the first fall frost October 3.

Where ZIP 69120 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.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
Coldest night−28.9 to −26.1 °C
Last frostMay 5
First frostOct 3
2012 zone5a

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 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Arnold, 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 Arnold, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 5median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 19only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 3median — 10% chance by Sep 21
Growing season149 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Arnold 4 Wnw, NE — within 1 mile, elevation 2,877 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 69120

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 14
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
TomatoesTransplant · May 12 – May 26
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 19 – Jun 2
BeansSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 8 – Aug 22
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 19 – Oct 24
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 5) and first fall frost (Oct 3) 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 69120 came on Mar 7 — 24 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31).

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 5a in Nebraska

413 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Nebraska, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. 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 184

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 129

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 Arnold, NE.

Soil in Arnold, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 69120 is Coly — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.3neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Coly silt loam, 11 to 17 percent slopes, eroded, cool.

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 69120; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Arnold, NE

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days29days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights171nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,714base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 11 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 10 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation23.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall31 inper year

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 36 °F, low 13 °F 36°13° JanFebruary: average high 38 °F, low 16 °F 38°16° FebMarch: average high 50 °F, low 24 °F 50°24° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 34 °F 59°34° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 46 °F 68°46° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 57 °F 79°57° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 62 °F 85°62° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 49 °F 76°49° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 35 °F 62°35° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 23 °F 48°23° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 15 °F 37°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.35 in precipitation, 5.4 in snowfall 0.3❄5 JanFebruary: 0.62 in precipitation, 7.2 in snowfall 0.6❄7 FebMarch: 1.17 in precipitation, 4.2 in snowfall 1.2❄4 MarApril: 2.47 in precipitation, 2.7 in snowfall 2.5❄3 AprMay: 3.73 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.7 MayJune: 4.06 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 3.47 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 2.60 in precipitation 2.6 AugSeptember: 1.83 in precipitation 1.8 SepOctober: 1.88 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 1.9❄1 OctNovember: 0.72 in precipitation, 3.6 in snowfall 0.7❄4 NovDecember: 0.62 in precipitation, 6.1 in snowfall 0.6❄6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Arnold 4 Wnw, NE (within 1 mile); precipitation: Arnold 4 Wnw, NE (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

691635b
Stapleton, NE · 18 mi
688255b
Callaway, NE · 18 mi
688565a
Merna, NE · 23 mi
688335a
Dunning, NE · 26 mi
691515b
Maxwell, NE · 27 mi
688135a
Anselmo, NE · 27 mi
691235b
Brady, NE · 28 mi
691385b
Gothenburg, NE · 30 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 69120

What planting zone is ZIP code 69120?

ZIP code 69120 (Arnold, NE) is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −20 to −15 °F (−28.9 to −26.1 °C).

When is the last frost in Arnold, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 69120 is May 5; after May 19 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Arnold 4 Wnw station.

When is the first frost in Arnold, NE?

The median first fall frost near 69120 is October 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 149 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 69120?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 10 – Mar 24 and set transplants outside around May 12 – May 26, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 69120 get?

About 23.5 inches of precipitation a year and 31 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Arnold 4 Wnw station).

How hot do summers get in Arnold, NE?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 29 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 69120 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Coly at the center of ZIP 69120: silt loam, well drained, pH about 7.3 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Arnold, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 69120 came on Mar 7 in 2026, 24 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Arnold, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 69120 is 15 h 11 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).