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

Planting zone for 69143 — Hershey, NE

ZIP code 69143 (Hershey, Lincoln 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 9.

Where ZIP 69143 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 9
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 Hershey, 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 Hershey, 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 16only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 9median — 10% chance by Sep 23
Growing season156 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 24 and returns around October 19.

From the NOAA station Hershey 5 Sse, NE — 6 miles away, elevation 2,953 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 69143

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 14 – Aug 28
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 25 – Oct 30
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 4) and first fall frost (Oct 9) 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 69143 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 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 Hershey, NE.

Soil in Hershey, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 69143 is Lex — loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH8.5alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Lex loam, saline-alkali, occasionally flooded.

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 69143; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Hershey, NE

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days39days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights166nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,957base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 09 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 12 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation20.7 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 39 °F, low 14 °F 39°14° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 17 °F 42°17° FebMarch: average high 53 °F, low 24 °F 53°24° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 33 °F 62°33° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 44 °F 71°44° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 55 °F 83°55° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 60 °F 88°60° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 58 °F 87°58° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 49 °F 79°49° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 36 °F 65°36° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 24 °F 51°24° NovDecember: average high 41 °F, low 16 °F 41°16° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.35 in precipitation 0.3 JanFebruary: 0.70 in precipitation 0.7 FebMarch: 0.94 in precipitation 0.9 MarApril: 2.22 in precipitation 2.2 AprMay: 3.20 in precipitation 3.2 MayJune: 3.58 in precipitation 3.6 JunJuly: 3.39 in precipitation 3.4 JulAugust: 1.98 in precipitation 2.0 AugSeptember: 1.82 in precipitation 1.8 SepOctober: 1.66 in precipitation 1.7 OctNovember: 0.47 in precipitation 0.5 NovDecember: 0.41 in precipitation 0.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Hershey 5 Sse, NE (6 mi away); precipitation: Hershey 6.0 Nw, NE (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

691655b
Sutherland, NE · 8 mi
691015b
North Platte, NE · 12 mi
691035b
North Platte, NE · 17 mi
691555b
Paxton, NE · 19 mi
691325b
Dickens, NE · 26 mi
691695b
Wallace, NE · 27 mi
691675b
Tryon, NE · 28 mi
691705b
Wellfleet, NE · 31 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 69143

What planting zone is ZIP code 69143?

ZIP code 69143 (Hershey, 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 Hershey, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 69143 is May 4; after May 16 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hershey 5 Sse station.

When is the first frost in Hershey, NE?

The median first fall frost near 69143 is October 9, giving a median frost-free growing season of 156 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 69143?

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 69143 get?

About 20.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hershey 6.0 Nw station).

How hot do summers get in Hershey, NE?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 39 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 69143 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Lex at the center of ZIP 69143: loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 8.5 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Hershey, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 69143 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 Hershey, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 69143 is 15 h 09 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 69143 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 69143 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.