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

Planting zone for 69148 — Lisco, NE

ZIP code 69148 (Lisco, Garden County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost September 29.

Where ZIP 69148 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 13
First frostSep 29
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 Lisco, 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 Lisco, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 13median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 26only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 29median — 10% chance by Sep 16
Growing season139 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 2 and returns around October 9.

From the NOAA station Crescent Lake Nwr, NE — 10 miles away, elevation 3,819 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 69148

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 22
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 22 – May 6
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
TomatoesTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 27 – Jun 10
BeansSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 4 – Aug 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 15 – Oct 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 13) and first fall frost (Sep 29) 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 69148 came on Mar 2 — 30 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 1).

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 Lisco, NE.

Soil in Lisco, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 69148 is Wildhorse — fine sand, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureFine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH9.2alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Wildhorse fine sand, 0 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 69148; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lisco, NE

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days37days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights165nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,564base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 12 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 09 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation18.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall37 inper year; 41 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 38 °F, low 13 °F 38°13° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 15 °F 41°15° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 24 °F 51°24° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 32 °F 59°32° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 42 °F 68°42° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 52 °F 80°52° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 58 °F 86°58° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 57 °F 85°57° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 46 °F 76°46° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 34 °F 62°34° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 22 °F 49°22° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 14 °F 38°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.29 in precipitation, 5 in snowfall 0.3❄5 JanFebruary: 0.42 in precipitation, 6.2 in snowfall 0.4❄6 FebMarch: 0.84 in precipitation, 5.8 in snowfall 0.8❄6 MarApril: 2.13 in precipitation, 4.8 in snowfall 2.1❄5 AprMay: 3.07 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 3.1❄1 MayJune: 2.86 in precipitation 2.9 JunJuly: 2.77 in precipitation 2.8 JulAugust: 2.56 in precipitation 2.6 AugSeptember: 1.67 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 1.7 SepOctober: 1.26 in precipitation, 2.4 in snowfall 1.3❄2 OctNovember: 0.55 in precipitation, 3.8 in snowfall 0.6❄4 NovDecember: 0.38 in precipitation, 7.1 in snowfall 0.4❄7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Crescent Lake Nwr, NE (10 mi away); precipitation: Crescent Lake Nwr, NE (10 mi away). 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.

691255a
Broadwater, NE · 14 mi
691545b
Oshkosh, NE · 21 mi
693315b
Angora, NE · 24 mi
691315b
Dalton, NE · 27 mi
691475b
Lewellen, NE · 28 mi
693365a
Bridgeport, NE · 29 mi
693515a
Lakeside, NE · 31 mi
691415b
Gurley, NE · 31 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 69148

What planting zone is ZIP code 69148?

ZIP code 69148 (Lisco, 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 Lisco, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 69148 is May 13; after May 26 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Crescent Lake Nwr station.

When is the first frost in Lisco, NE?

The median first fall frost near 69148 is September 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 139 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 69148?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 18 – Apr 1 and set transplants outside around May 20 – Jun 3, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 69148 get?

About 18.8 inches of precipitation a year and 37 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Crescent Lake Nwr station).

How hot do summers get in Lisco, NE?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 37 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 69148 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Wildhorse at the center of ZIP 69148: fine sand, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 9.2 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Lisco, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 69148 came on Mar 2 in 2026, 30 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 1), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Lisco, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 69148 is 15 h 12 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).