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

Planting zone for 69150 — Madrid, NE

ZIP code 69150 (Madrid, Perkins 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 7.

Where ZIP 69150 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 7
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 Madrid, 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 Madrid, 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 7median — 10% chance by Sep 26
Growing season156 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 24 and returns around October 16.

From the NOAA station Madrid, NE — 2 miles away, elevation 3,199 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 69150

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 12 – Aug 26
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 23 – Oct 28
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 4) and first fall frost (Oct 7) 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 69150 came on Mar 3 — 25 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).

Soil in Madrid, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 69150 is Jayem — loamy fine sand, well drained.

TextureLoamy fine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Jayem loamy 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 69150; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Madrid, NE

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days47days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights168nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,054base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 06 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 14 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation21.4 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 40 °F, low 14 °F 40°14° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 16 °F 43°16° FebMarch: average high 54 °F, low 25 °F 54°25° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 33 °F 62°33° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 45 °F 72°45° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 56 °F 84°56° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 61 °F 89°61° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 59 °F 87°59° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 49 °F 80°49° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 35 °F 65°35° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 23 °F 51°23° NovDecember: average high 41 °F, low 15 °F 41°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.36 in precipitation 0.4 JanFebruary: 0.70 in precipitation 0.7 FebMarch: 1.02 in precipitation 1.0 MarApril: 2.04 in precipitation 2.0 AprMay: 3.54 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 3.28 in precipitation 3.3 JunJuly: 3.64 in precipitation 3.6 JulAugust: 2.53 in precipitation 2.5 AugSeptember: 1.64 in precipitation 1.6 SepOctober: 1.77 in precipitation 1.8 OctNovember: 0.53 in precipitation 0.5 NovDecember: 0.40 in precipitation 0.4 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

691345b
Elsie, NE · 9 mi
691405b
Grant, NE · 12 mi
691535b
Ogallala, NE · 19 mi
691695b
Wallace, NE · 19 mi
690335b
Imperial, NE · 20 mi
690275b
Enders, NE · 22 mi
691685b
Venango, NE · 24 mi
690455b
Wauneta, NE · 26 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 69150

What planting zone is ZIP code 69150?

ZIP code 69150 (Madrid, 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 Madrid, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 69150 is May 4; after May 16 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Madrid station.

When is the first frost in Madrid, NE?

The median first fall frost near 69150 is October 7, giving a median frost-free growing season of 156 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 69150?

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 69150 get?

About 21.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Madrid station).

How hot do summers get in Madrid, NE?

The average high peaks at 89 °F in July, with about 47 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 69150 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Jayem at the center of ZIP 69150: loamy fine sand, well drained, pH about 7.2 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Madrid, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 69150 came on Mar 3 in 2026, 25 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 28), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Madrid, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 69150 is 15 h 06 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).