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

Planting zone for 69301 — Alliance, NE

ZIP code 69301 (Alliance, Box Butte County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 11 and the first fall frost October 3.

Where ZIP 69301 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 11
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 Alliance, 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 Alliance, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 11median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 28only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 3median — 10% chance by Sep 21
Growing season144 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 1 and returns around October 12.

From the NOAA station Alliance 1wnw, NE — within 1 mile, elevation 3,993 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 69301

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 20
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 20 – May 4
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
TomatoesTransplant · May 18 – Jun 1
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 25 – Jun 8
BeansSow outdoors · May 18 – Jun 1
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 18 – Jun 1
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 18 – Jun 1
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 11) 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 69301 came on Mar 3 — 31 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 3).

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 Alliance, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 69301 is Keith — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.8neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Keith loam, 1 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 69301; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Alliance, NE

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days41days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights181nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,635base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 15 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 06 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation18 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 38 °F, low 14 °F 38°14° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 15 °F 40°15° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 23 °F 51°23° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 32 °F 58°32° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 43 °F 68°43° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 53 °F 80°53° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 59 °F 87°59° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 57 °F 86°57° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 47 °F 77°47° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 33 °F 62°33° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 22 °F 49°22° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 14 °F 39°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.32 in precipitation 0.3 JanFebruary: 0.47 in precipitation 0.5 FebMarch: 0.88 in precipitation 0.9 MarApril: 2.03 in precipitation 2.0 AprMay: 2.90 in precipitation 2.9 MayJune: 3.15 in precipitation 3.1 JunJuly: 2.47 in precipitation 2.5 JulAugust: 1.78 in precipitation 1.8 AugSeptember: 1.72 in precipitation 1.7 SepOctober: 1.29 in precipitation 1.3 OctNovember: 0.54 in precipitation 0.5 NovDecember: 0.44 in precipitation 0.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Alliance 1wnw, NE (within 1 mile); precipitation: Alliance 7.4 Nw, NE (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

693315b
Angora, NE · 17 mi
693485a
Hemingford, NE · 22 mi
693515a
Lakeside, NE · 24 mi
693345a
Bayard, NE · 29 mi
693545a
Marsland, NE · 31 mi
693565a
Minatare, NE · 33 mi
691485a
Lisco, NE · 33 mi
693475a
Hay Springs, NE · 34 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 69301

What planting zone is ZIP code 69301?

ZIP code 69301 (Alliance, 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 Alliance, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 69301 is May 11; after May 28 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Alliance 1wnw station.

When is the first frost in Alliance, NE?

The median first fall frost near 69301 is October 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 144 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 69301?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 16 – Mar 30 and set transplants outside around May 18 – Jun 1, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 69301 get?

About 18 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Alliance 7.4 Nw station).

How hot do summers get in Alliance, NE?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 41 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 69301 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Keith at the center of ZIP 69301: loam, well drained, pH about 6.8 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Alliance, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 69301 came on Mar 3 in 2026, 31 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 3), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Alliance, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 69301 is 15 h 15 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).