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

Planting zone for 69339 — Crawford, NE

ZIP code 69339 (Crawford, Dawes County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost September 30.

Where ZIP 69339 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 13
First frostSep 30
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 Crawford, 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 Crawford, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 13median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 2only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 30median — 10% chance by Sep 15
Growing season138 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 1 and returns around October 9.

From the NOAA station Ft Robinson, NE — 6 miles away, elevation 3,813 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 69339

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 22
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 22 – May 6
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
TomatoesTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 27 – Jun 10
BeansSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
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 13) 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 69339 came on Mar 2 — 33 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).

Soil in Crawford, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 69339 is Tassel — loamy very fine sand, well drained.

TextureLoamy very fine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.7slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Tassel-Ponderosa-Rock outcrop association, 9 to 70 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 69339; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Crawford, NE

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days52days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights178nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,654base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 19 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 03 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation18.1 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 41 °F, low 12 °F 41°12° JanFebruary: average high 42 °F, low 15 °F 42°15° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 23 °F 52°23° MarApril: average high 60 °F, low 31 °F 60°31° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 42 °F 69°42° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 50 °F 81°50° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 58 °F 89°58° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 56 °F 89°56° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 46 °F 78°46° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 32 °F 62°32° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 21 °F 50°21° NovDecember: average high 40 °F, low 13 °F 40°13° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.35 in precipitation 0.3 JanFebruary: 0.45 in precipitation 0.5 FebMarch: 0.99 in precipitation 1.0 MarApril: 2.21 in precipitation 2.2 AprMay: 3.42 in precipitation 3.4 MayJune: 2.89 in precipitation 2.9 JunJuly: 2.03 in precipitation 2.0 JulAugust: 1.64 in precipitation 1.6 AugSeptember: 1.51 in precipitation 1.5 SepOctober: 1.57 in precipitation 1.6 OctNovember: 0.60 in precipitation 0.6 NovDecember: 0.48 in precipitation 0.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ft Robinson, NE (6 mi away); precipitation: Crawford 6.8 E, NE (10 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

693545a
Marsland, NE · 14 mi
693675a
Whitney, NE · 17 mi
693465a
Harrison, NE · 18 mi
693485a
Hemingford, NE · 21 mi
693375a
Chadron, NE · 31 mi
693615a
Scottsbluff, NE · 34 mi
693575a
Mitchell, NE · 37 mi
577635a
Oelrichs, SD · 39 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 69339

What planting zone is ZIP code 69339?

ZIP code 69339 (Crawford, 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 Crawford, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 69339 is May 13; after June 2 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ft Robinson station.

When is the first frost in Crawford, NE?

The median first fall frost near 69339 is September 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 138 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 69339?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 18 – Apr 1 and set transplants outside around May 20 – Jun 3, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 69339 get?

About 18.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Crawford 6.8 E station).

How hot do summers get in Crawford, NE?

The average high peaks at 89 °F in July, with about 52 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 69339 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Tassel at the center of ZIP 69339: loamy very fine sand, well drained, pH about 7.7 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Crawford, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 69339 came on Mar 2 in 2026, 33 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 4), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Crawford, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 69339 is 15 h 19 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).