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

Planting zone for 69122 — Big Springs, NE

ZIP code 69122 (Big Springs, Deuel County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 10 and the first fall frost October 3.

Where ZIP 69122 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 10
First frostOct 3
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 Big Springs, 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 Big Springs, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 10median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 22only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 3median — 10% chance by Sep 20
Growing season146 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 1 and returns around October 11.

From the NOAA station Big Springs, NE — 2 miles away, elevation 3,379 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 69122

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 19 – May 3
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
TomatoesTransplant · May 17 – May 31
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 24 – Jun 7
BeansSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
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 10) 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 69122 came on Mar 2 — 26 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 28).

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 Big Springs, NE.

Soil in Big Springs, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 69122 is Satanta — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Satanta-Johnstown-Altvan loams, 1 to 3 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 69122; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Big Springs, NE

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days45days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights170nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,930base 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)
Precipitation17.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall28 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 12 °F 42°12° JanFebruary: average high 45 °F, low 16 °F 45°16° FebMarch: average high 55 °F, low 24 °F 55°24° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 32 °F 63°32° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 43 °F 72°43° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 54 °F 84°54° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 60 °F 90°60° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 57 °F 88°57° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 47 °F 80°47° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 33 °F 67°33° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 21 °F 54°21° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 13 °F 43°13° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 0.31 in precipitation, 4 in snowfall 0.3❄4 JanFebruary: 0.42 in precipitation, 7 in snowfall 0.4❄7 FebMarch: 0.88 in precipitation, 3.9 in snowfall 0.9❄4 MarApril: 2.04 in precipitation, 3.5 in snowfall 2.0❄4 AprMay: 2.52 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 2.5 MayJune: 2.83 in precipitation 2.8 JunJuly: 2.72 in precipitation 2.7 JulAugust: 2.16 in precipitation 2.2 AugSeptember: 1.58 in precipitation 1.6 SepOctober: 1.25 in precipitation, 1.6 in snowfall 1.3❄2 OctNovember: 0.48 in precipitation, 2.1 in snowfall 0.5❄2 NovDecember: 0.37 in precipitation, 5.4 in snowfall 0.4❄5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Big Springs, NE (2 mi away); precipitation: Big Springs, NE (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

691275b
Brule, NE · 9 mi
807375b
Julesburg, CO · 15 mi
691295b
Chappell, NE · 15 mi
691465b
Lemoyne, NE · 21 mi
691535b
Ogallala, NE · 22 mi
807445b
Ovid, CO · 22 mi
691405b
Grant, NE · 24 mi
691685b
Venango, NE · 25 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 69122

What planting zone is ZIP code 69122?

ZIP code 69122 (Big Springs, 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 Big Springs, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 69122 is May 10; after May 22 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Big Springs station.

When is the first frost in Big Springs, NE?

The median first fall frost near 69122 is October 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 146 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 69122?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 15 – Mar 29 and set transplants outside around May 17 – May 31, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 69122 get?

About 17.6 inches of precipitation a year and 28 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Big Springs station).

How hot do summers get in Big Springs, NE?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 45 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 69122 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Satanta at the center of ZIP 69122: loam, well drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Big Springs, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 69122 came on Mar 2 in 2026, 26 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 28), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Big Springs, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 69122 is 15 h 08 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).