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

Planting zone for 69162 — Sidney, NE

ZIP code 69162 (Sidney, 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 30.

Where ZIP 69162 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 30
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 Sidney, 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 Sidney, 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 30only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 30median — 10% chance by Sep 15
Growing season135 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 5 and returns around October 9.

From the NOAA station Sidney Municipal Airport, NE — 2 miles away, elevation 4,308 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 69162

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 5 – Aug 19
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 16 – Oct 21
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 15) and first fall frost (Sep 30) 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 69162 came on Mar 2 — 28 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 Sidney, NE.

Soil in Sidney, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 69162 is Bayard — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains 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 classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Bayard fine sandy loam, 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 69162; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Sidney, NE

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days47days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights180nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,660base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 08 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)
Precipitation17.4 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 42 °F, low 14 °F 42°14° JanFebruary: average high 44 °F, low 15 °F 44°15° FebMarch: average high 54 °F, low 23 °F 54°23° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 30 °F 61°30° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 40 °F 70°40° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 51 °F 82°51° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 57 °F 90°57° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 55 °F 88°55° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 46 °F 79°46° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 32 °F 64°32° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 21 °F 51°21° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 14 °F 42°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 0.22 in precipitation 0.2 JanFebruary: 0.46 in precipitation 0.5 FebMarch: 0.74 in precipitation 0.7 MarApril: 1.90 in precipitation 1.9 AprMay: 3.00 in precipitation 3.0 MayJune: 2.94 in precipitation 2.9 JunJuly: 2.49 in precipitation 2.5 JulAugust: 2.08 in precipitation 2.1 AugSeptember: 1.57 in precipitation 1.6 SepOctober: 1.22 in precipitation 1.2 OctNovember: 0.45 in precipitation 0.5 NovDecember: 0.37 in precipitation 0.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Sidney Municipal Airport, NE (2 mi away); precipitation: Sidney 0.9 Nnw, NE (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5b.

691605b
Sidney, NE · 6 mi
691415b
Gurley, NE · 13 mi
807475b
Peetz, CO · 16 mi
807265b
Crook, CO · 19 mi
691315b
Dalton, NE · 20 mi
691565b
Potter, NE · 20 mi
807365b
Iliff, CO · 22 mi
691335b
Dix, NE · 24 mi

All 2 ZIP codes in Sidney → · Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 69162

What planting zone is ZIP code 69162?

ZIP code 69162 (Sidney, 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 Sidney, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 69162 is May 15; after May 30 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sidney Municipal Airport station.

When is the first frost in Sidney, NE?

The median first fall frost near 69162 is September 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 135 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 69162?

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 69162 get?

About 17.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sidney 0.9 Nnw station).

How hot do summers get in Sidney, NE?

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

What kind of soil does 69162 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Bayard at the center of ZIP 69162: fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 7.2 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Sidney, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 69162 came on Mar 2 in 2026, 28 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 30), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Sidney, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 69162 is 15 h 08 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 69162 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 69162 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.