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

Planting zone for 69212 — Crookston, NE

ZIP code 69212 (Crookston, Cherry County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 10 and the first fall frost September 29.

Where ZIP 69212 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 10
First frostSep 29
2012 zone4b

Was 4b 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 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Crookston, 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 Crookston, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 10median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 29median — 10% chance by Sep 14
Growing season141 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 2 and returns around October 7.

From the NOAA station Kilgore 1ne, NE — 7 miles away, elevation 2,904 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 69212

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 19 – May 3
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
TomatoesTransplant · May 17 – May 31
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 24 – Jun 7
BeansSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
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 10) 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 69212 came on Mar 17 — 18 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 4).

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 Crookston, NE.

Soil in Crookston, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 69212 is Anselmo — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Anselmo-Longpine fine sandy loams, 9 to 30 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 69212; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Crookston, NE

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low11 °Faverage low, January
Hot days35days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights173nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,462base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 22 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 00 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation22.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall38 inper year; 51 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 33 °F, low 11 °F 33°11° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 13 °F 37°13° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 22 °F 47°22° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 31 °F 56°31° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 42 °F 67°42° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 53 °F 78°53° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 59 °F 85°59° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 56 °F 84°56° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 46 °F 75°46° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 33 °F 61°33° OctNovember: average high 46 °F, low 22 °F 46°22° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 14 °F 35°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.77 in precipitation, 4.5 in snowfall 0.8❄5 JanFebruary: 0.87 in precipitation, 5.9 in snowfall 0.9❄6 FebMarch: 1.47 in precipitation, 7.5 in snowfall 1.5❄8 MarApril: 2.96 in precipitation, 4.8 in snowfall 3.0❄5 AprMay: 3.37 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.4 MayJune: 3.51 in precipitation 3.5 JunJuly: 2.64 in precipitation 2.6 JulAugust: 2.31 in precipitation 2.3 AugSeptember: 1.81 in precipitation 1.8 SepOctober: 1.41 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 1.4❄1 OctNovember: 0.74 in precipitation, 4.6 in snowfall 0.7❄5 NovDecember: 0.78 in precipitation, 9.2 in snowfall 0.8❄9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Kilgore 1ne, NE (7 mi away); precipitation: Kilgore 1ne, NE (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

692165a
Kilgore, NE · 11 mi
575725a
Saint Francis, SD · 19 mi
575705a
Rosebud, SD · 19 mi
692195a
Nenzel, NE · 22 mi
692015a
Valentine, NE · 22 mi
575555a
Mission, SD · 22 mi
575665a
Parmelee, SD · 27 mi
692115a
Cody, NE · 28 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 69212

What planting zone is ZIP code 69212?

ZIP code 69212 (Crookston, 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 Crookston, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 69212 is May 10; after May 23 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Kilgore 1ne station.

When is the first frost in Crookston, NE?

The median first fall frost near 69212 is September 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 141 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 69212?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 15 – Mar 29 and set transplants outside around May 17 – May 31, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 69212 get?

About 22.6 inches of precipitation a year and 38 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Kilgore 1ne station).

How hot do summers get in Crookston, NE?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 35 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 69212 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Anselmo at the center of ZIP 69212: fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Crookston, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 69212 came on Mar 17 in 2026, 18 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 4), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Crookston, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 69212 is 15 h 22 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 69212 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 69212 in zone 4b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.