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

Planting zone for 69346 — Harrison, NE

ZIP code 69346 (Harrison, Sioux County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 20 and the first fall frost September 21.

Where ZIP 69346 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 20
First frostSep 21
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 Harrison, 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 Harrison, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 20median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 21median — 10% chance by Sep 4
Growing season121 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Harrison, NE — 6 miles away, elevation 4,849 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 69346

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 29
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 29 – May 13
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
TomatoesTransplant · May 27 – Jun 10
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 3 – Jun 17
BeansSow outdoors · May 27 – Jun 10
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 27 – Jun 10
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 27 – Jun 10
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 27 – Aug 10
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 7 – Oct 12
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 20) and first fall frost (Sep 21) 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 69346 came on Mar 15 — 25 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 9).

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 Harrison, NE.

Soil in Harrison, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 69346 is Sarben — loamy very fine sand, well drained.

TextureLoamy very fine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Sarben loamy very fine sand, 3 to 9 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 69346; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Harrison, NE

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days21days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights190nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,107base 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)
Precipitation17.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall57 inper year; 56 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 35 °F, low 12 °F 35°12° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 13 °F 37°13° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 21 °F 47°21° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 28 °F 55°28° AprMay: average high 64 °F, low 39 °F 64°39° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 49 °F 76°49° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 56 °F 85°56° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 53 °F 83°53° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 43 °F 74°43° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 31 °F 58°31° OctNovember: average high 45 °F, low 20 °F 45°20° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 13 °F 35°13° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.36 in precipitation, 6.2 in snowfall 0.4❄6 JanFebruary: 0.49 in precipitation, 10 in snowfall 0.5❄10 FebMarch: 1.01 in precipitation, 10.9 in snowfall 1.0❄11 MarApril: 2.22 in precipitation, 8.1 in snowfall 2.2❄8 AprMay: 3.67 in precipitation, 2.7 in snowfall 3.7❄3 MayJune: 2.86 in precipitation 2.9 JunJuly: 1.94 in precipitation 1.9 JulAugust: 1.39 in precipitation 1.4 AugSeptember: 1.35 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 1.4❄1 SepOctober: 1.31 in precipitation, 3.8 in snowfall 1.3❄4 OctNovember: 0.53 in precipitation, 5.5 in snowfall 0.5❄6 NovDecember: 0.42 in precipitation, 8.5 in snowfall 0.4❄9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Harrison, NE (6 mi away); precipitation: Harrison, NE (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

822425a
Van Tassell, WY · 18 mi
693395a
Crawford, NE · 18 mi
693545a
Marsland, NE · 27 mi
693675a
Whitney, NE · 27 mi
822255a
Lusk, WY · 35 mi
693575a
Mitchell, NE · 36 mi
822405a
Torrington, WY · 37 mi
822195a
Jay Em, WY · 37 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 69346

What planting zone is ZIP code 69346?

ZIP code 69346 (Harrison, 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 Harrison, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 69346 is May 20; after June 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Harrison station.

When is the first frost in Harrison, NE?

The median first fall frost near 69346 is September 21, giving a median frost-free growing season of 121 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 69346?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 25 – Apr 8 and set transplants outside around May 27 – Jun 10, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 69346 get?

About 17.6 inches of precipitation a year and 57 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Harrison station).

How hot do summers get in Harrison, NE?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 21 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 69346 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Sarben at the center of ZIP 69346: loamy very fine sand, well drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Harrison, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 69346 came on Mar 15 in 2026, 25 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 9), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Harrison, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 69346 is 15 h 19 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).