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

Planting zone for 69340 — Ellsworth, NE

ZIP code 69340 (Ellsworth, Sheridan County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 12 and the first fall frost October 1.

Where ZIP 69340 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 12
First frostOct 1
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 Ellsworth, 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 Ellsworth, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 12median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 26only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 1median — 10% chance by Sep 15
Growing season141 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 2 and returns around October 10.

From the NOAA station Ellsworth 15 Nne, NE — 8 miles away, elevation 3,970 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 69340

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
TomatoesTransplant · May 19 – Jun 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 26 – Jun 9
BeansSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 6 – Aug 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 17 – Oct 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 12) and first fall frost (Oct 1) 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 69340 came on Mar 11 — 25 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5).

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 Ellsworth, NE.

Soil in Ellsworth, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 69340 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 and hilly, 9 to 60 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 69340; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Ellsworth, NE

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days27days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights179nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,479base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 16 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)
Precipitation19.1 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 35 °F, low 12 °F 35°12° JanFebruary: average high 39 °F, low 14 °F 39°14° FebMarch: average high 49 °F, low 23 °F 49°23° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 31 °F 57°31° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 42 °F 68°42° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 53 °F 78°53° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 59 °F 86°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 48 °F, low 21 °F 48°21° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 12 °F 38°12° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.29 in precipitation 0.3 JanFebruary: 0.54 in precipitation 0.5 FebMarch: 0.68 in precipitation 0.7 MarApril: 2.30 in precipitation 2.3 AprMay: 3.05 in precipitation 3.0 MayJune: 3.20 in precipitation 3.2 JunJuly: 2.77 in precipitation 2.8 JulAugust: 2.02 in precipitation 2.0 AugSeptember: 1.65 in precipitation 1.6 SepOctober: 1.73 in precipitation 1.7 OctNovember: 0.47 in precipitation 0.5 NovDecember: 0.38 in precipitation 0.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ellsworth 15 Nne, NE (8 mi away); precipitation: Ellsworth 15 Nne, NE (8 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.

693355a
Bingham, NE · 9 mi
693515a
Lakeside, NE · 11 mi
693335a
Ashby, NE · 14 mi
693505a
Hyannis, NE · 26 mi
693665b
Whitman, NE · 32 mi
691485a
Lisco, NE · 38 mi
693435a
Gordon, NE · 39 mi
693475a
Hay Springs, NE · 40 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 69340

What planting zone is ZIP code 69340?

ZIP code 69340 (Ellsworth, 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 Ellsworth, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 69340 is May 12; after May 26 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ellsworth 15 Nne station.

When is the first frost in Ellsworth, NE?

The median first fall frost near 69340 is October 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 141 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 69340?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 17 – Mar 31 and set transplants outside around May 19 – Jun 2, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 69340 get?

About 19.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ellsworth 15 Nne station).

How hot do summers get in Ellsworth, NE?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 27 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 69340 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Valentine at the center of ZIP 69340: fine sand, excessively drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Ellsworth, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 69340 came on Mar 11 in 2026, 25 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 5), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Ellsworth, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 69340 is 15 h 16 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 69340 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 69340 in zone 4b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.