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

Planting zone for 69217 — Long Pine, NE

ZIP code 69217 (Long Pine, Brown County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 6 and the first fall frost October 3.

Where ZIP 69217 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 6
First frostOct 3
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 Long Pine, 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 Long Pine, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 19only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 3median — 10% chance by Sep 19
Growing season150 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 27 and returns around October 13.

From the NOAA station Elsmere 9 Ene, NE — 16 miles away, elevation 2,654 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 69217

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesTransplant · May 13 – May 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
BeansSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 8 – Aug 22
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 19 – Oct 24
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (Oct 3) 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 69217 came on Mar 12 — 23 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 Long Pine, NE.

Soil in Long Pine, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 69217 is Valentine — fine sand, excessively drained.

TextureFine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Valentine fine sand, rolling, 9 to 24 percent slopes, moist.

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 69217; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Long Pine, NE

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low15 °Faverage low, January
Hot days47days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights164nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,311base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 16 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 05 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation25.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall45 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 15 °F 40°15° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 17 °F 43°17° FebMarch: average high 55 °F, low 26 °F 55°26° MarApril: average high 64 °F, low 35 °F 64°35° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 46 °F 74°46° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 57 °F 84°57° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 62 °F 90°62° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 60 °F 88°60° AugSeptember: average high 81 °F, low 50 °F 81°50° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 37 °F 67°37° OctNovember: average high 53 °F, low 25 °F 53°25° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 17 °F 42°17° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.54 in precipitation, 7.5 in snowfall 0.5❄8 JanFebruary: 0.80 in precipitation, 11.1 in snowfall 0.8❄11 FebMarch: 1.44 in precipitation, 6.5 in snowfall 1.4❄7 MarApril: 2.64 in precipitation, 5.3 in snowfall 2.6❄5 AprMay: 4.15 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 4.2 MayJune: 4.24 in precipitation 4.2 JunJuly: 3.09 in precipitation 3.1 JulAugust: 2.94 in precipitation 2.9 AugSeptember: 2.39 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 2.4 SepOctober: 1.79 in precipitation, 1.3 in snowfall 1.8❄1 OctNovember: 0.78 in precipitation, 5.5 in snowfall 0.8❄6 NovDecember: 0.71 in precipitation, 7 in snowfall 0.7❄7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Elsmere 9 Ene, NE (16 mi away); precipitation: Elsmere 9 Ene, NE (16 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.

692105b
Ainsworth, NE · 11 mi
687145a
Bassett, NE · 13 mi
688215a
Brewster, NE · 18 mi
692145b
Johnstown, NE · 23 mi
688795a
Taylor, NE · 27 mi
691575a
Purdum, NE · 31 mi
687115a
Amelia, NE · 35 mi
688235a
Burwell, NE · 36 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 69217

What planting zone is ZIP code 69217?

ZIP code 69217 (Long Pine, 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 Long Pine, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 69217 is May 6; after May 19 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elsmere 9 Ene station.

When is the first frost in Long Pine, NE?

The median first fall frost near 69217 is October 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 150 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 69217?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 11 – Mar 25 and set transplants outside around May 13 – May 27, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 69217 get?

About 25.5 inches of precipitation a year and 45 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elsmere 9 Ene station).

How hot do summers get in Long Pine, 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 69217 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Valentine at the center of ZIP 69217: fine sand, excessively drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Long Pine, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 69217 came on Mar 12 in 2026, 23 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 4), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Long Pine, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 69217 is 15 h 16 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).