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

Planting zone for 69144 — Keystone, NE

ZIP code 69144 (Keystone, Keith County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 22 and the first fall frost October 18.

Where ZIP 69144 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 22
First frostOct 18
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 Keystone, 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 Keystone, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 22median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 6only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 18median — 10% chance by Oct 2
Growing season176 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 10 and returns around October 26.

From the NOAA station Kingsley Dam, NE — 9 miles away, elevation 3,317 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 69144

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 11 – Apr 1
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 29 – May 13
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 6 – May 20
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 23 – Sep 6
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 4 – Nov 8
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 22) and first fall frost (Oct 18) 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 69144 came on Mar 6 — 24 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 Keystone, NE.

Soil in Keystone, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 69144 is Valentine — fine sand, excessively drained.

TextureFine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Valentine fine sand, rolling and hilly, 9 to 60 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 69144; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Keystone, NE

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low18 °Faverage low, January
Hot days41days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights146nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,020base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 10 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 11 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation19.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall21 inper year; 25 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 36 °F, low 18 °F 36°18° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 19 °F 40°19° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 28 °F 51°28° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 36 °F 59°36° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 47 °F 69°47° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 57 °F 81°57° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 63 °F 87°63° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 61 °F 85°61° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 52 °F 77°52° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 39 °F 62°39° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 28 °F 49°28° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 20 °F 38°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.33 in precipitation, 4 in snowfall 0.3❄4 JanFebruary: 0.61 in precipitation, 5.2 in snowfall 0.6❄5 FebMarch: 0.92 in precipitation, 3.2 in snowfall 0.9❄3 MarApril: 2.08 in precipitation, 2.3 in snowfall 2.1❄2 AprMay: 3.35 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.4 MayJune: 3.24 in precipitation 3.2 JunJuly: 2.84 in precipitation 2.8 JulAugust: 1.99 in precipitation 2.0 AugSeptember: 1.58 in precipitation 1.6 SepOctober: 1.35 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 1.4❄1 OctNovember: 0.51 in precipitation, 2.1 in snowfall 0.5❄2 NovDecember: 0.41 in precipitation, 3.5 in snowfall 0.4❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Kingsley Dam, NE (9 mi away); precipitation: Kingsley Dam, NE (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

691465b
Lemoyne, NE · 13 mi
691215b
Arthur, NE · 16 mi
691555b
Paxton, NE · 16 mi
691535b
Ogallala, NE · 19 mi
691275b
Brule, NE · 23 mi
691655b
Sutherland, NE · 27 mi
691475b
Lewellen, NE · 29 mi
691225b
Big Springs, NE · 29 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 69144

What planting zone is ZIP code 69144?

ZIP code 69144 (Keystone, 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 Keystone, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 69144 is April 22; after May 6 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Kingsley Dam station.

When is the first frost in Keystone, NE?

The median first fall frost near 69144 is October 18, giving a median frost-free growing season of 176 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 69144?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 25 – Mar 11 and set transplants outside around Apr 29 – May 13, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 69144 get?

About 19.2 inches of precipitation a year and 21 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Kingsley Dam station).

How hot do summers get in Keystone, NE?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 41 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 69144 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Valentine at the center of ZIP 69144: fine sand, excessively drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Keystone, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 69144 came on Mar 6 in 2026, 24 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 30), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Keystone, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 69144 is 15 h 10 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).