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

Planting zone for 69156 — Potter, NE

ZIP code 69156 (Potter, Cheyenne County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost September 26.

Where ZIP 69156 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 15
First frostSep 26
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 Potter, 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 Potter, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 26median — 10% chance by Sep 13
Growing season132 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 6 and returns around October 6.

From the NOAA station Kimball 2ne, NE — 15 miles away, elevation 4,708 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 69156

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
TomatoesTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 29 – Jun 12
BeansSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 1 – Aug 15
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 12 – Oct 17
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 15) and first fall frost (Sep 26) 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 69156 came on Mar 1 — 32 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 2).

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 Potter, NE.

Soil in Potter, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 69156 is Dix — gravelly loam, excessively drained.

TextureGravelly loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Dix gravelly loam, 9 to 50 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 69156; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Potter, NE

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days36days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights184nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,259base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 09 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)
Precipitation17.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall33 inper year

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 40 °F, low 13 °F 40°13° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 14 °F 42°14° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 22 °F 52°22° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 29 °F 58°29° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 40 °F 67°40° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 49 °F 80°49° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 55 °F 86°55° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 53 °F 84°53° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 43 °F 77°43° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 31 °F 62°31° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 20 °F 50°20° NovDecember: average high 41 °F, low 13 °F 41°13° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 0.26 in precipitation, 3.8 in snowfall 0.3❄4 JanFebruary: 0.53 in precipitation, 6 in snowfall 0.5❄6 FebMarch: 0.92 in precipitation, 5.6 in snowfall 0.9❄6 MarApril: 1.76 in precipitation, 4.7 in snowfall 1.8❄5 AprMay: 2.88 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 2.9 MayJune: 2.23 in precipitation 2.2 JunJuly: 2.09 in precipitation 2.1 JulAugust: 2.68 in precipitation 2.7 AugSeptember: 1.82 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 1.8❄1 SepOctober: 1.37 in precipitation, 2.2 in snowfall 1.4❄2 OctNovember: 0.53 in precipitation, 5.8 in snowfall 0.5❄6 NovDecember: 0.51 in precipitation, 4.3 in snowfall 0.5❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Kimball 2ne, NE (15 mi away); precipitation: Potter, NE (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

2 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

691335b
Dix, NE · 8 mi
691455a
Kimball, NE · 18 mi
691605b
Sidney, NE · 19 mi
691625b
Sidney, NE · 20 mi
691315b
Dalton, NE · 20 mi
691415b
Gurley, NE · 21 mi
807475b
Peetz, CO · 25 mi
693365a
Bridgeport, NE · 26 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 69156

What planting zone is ZIP code 69156?

ZIP code 69156 (Potter, 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 Potter, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 69156 is May 15; after May 31 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Kimball 2ne station.

When is the first frost in Potter, NE?

The median first fall frost near 69156 is September 26, giving a median frost-free growing season of 132 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 69156?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 20 – Apr 3 and set transplants outside around May 22 – Jun 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 69156 get?

About 17.6 inches of precipitation a year and 33 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Potter station).

How hot do summers get in Potter, NE?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 36 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 69156 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Dix at the center of ZIP 69156: gravelly loam, excessively drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Potter, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 69156 came on Mar 1 in 2026, 32 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 2), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Potter, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 69156 is 15 h 09 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 69156 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 69156 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.