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

Planting zone for 69355 — Melbeta, NE

ZIP code 69355 (Melbeta, Scotts Bluff County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 5 and the first fall frost October 4.

Where ZIP 69355 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 5
First frostOct 4
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 Melbeta, 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 Melbeta, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 5median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 4median — 10% chance by Sep 21
Growing season149 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Scottsbluff Heilig Airport, NE — 7 miles away, elevation 3,944 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 69355

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 14
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
TomatoesTransplant · May 12 – May 26
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 19 – Jun 2
BeansSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 9 – Aug 23
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 20 – Oct 25
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 5) and first fall frost (Oct 4) 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 69355 came on Feb 28 — 30 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 30).

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 Melbeta, NE.

Soil in Melbeta, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 69355 is Glenberg — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.9alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Glenberg fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 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 69355; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Melbeta, NE

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, December
Hot days49days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights174nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,950base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 13 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 08 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation15.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall43 inper year; 36 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 42 °F, low 15 °F 42°15° JanFebruary: average high 45 °F, low 17 °F 45°17° FebMarch: average high 55 °F, low 25 °F 55°25° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 33 °F 62°33° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 44 °F 72°44° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 54 °F 84°54° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 60 °F 91°60° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 57 °F 89°57° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 47 °F 80°47° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 34 °F 65°34° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 23 °F 52°23° NovDecember: average high 42 °F, low 14 °F 42°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 0.39 in precipitation, 5.3 in snowfall 0.4❄5 JanFebruary: 0.56 in precipitation, 7.5 in snowfall 0.6❄8 FebMarch: 1.00 in precipitation, 6.8 in snowfall 1.0❄7 MarApril: 1.92 in precipitation, 5.2 in snowfall 1.9❄5 AprMay: 2.78 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 2.8❄1 MayJune: 2.54 in precipitation 2.5 JunJuly: 1.66 in precipitation 1.7 JulAugust: 1.24 in precipitation 1.2 AugSeptember: 1.22 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 1.2 SepOctober: 1.23 in precipitation, 3.5 in snowfall 1.2❄4 OctNovember: 0.59 in precipitation, 5.2 in snowfall 0.6❄5 NovDecember: 0.52 in precipitation, 7.8 in snowfall 0.5❄8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Scottsbluff Heilig Airport, NE (7 mi away); precipitation: Scottsbluff Heilig Airport, NE (7 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.

693565a
Minatare, NE · 8 mi
693415b
Gering, NE · 9 mi
693635a
Scottsbluff, NE · 10 mi
693345a
Bayard, NE · 12 mi
693455a
Harrisburg, NE · 16 mi
693615a
Scottsbluff, NE · 22 mi
693525a
Lyman, NE · 24 mi
693575a
Mitchell, NE · 26 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 69355

What planting zone is ZIP code 69355?

ZIP code 69355 (Melbeta, 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 Melbeta, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 69355 is May 5; after May 18 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Scottsbluff Heilig Airport station.

When is the first frost in Melbeta, NE?

The median first fall frost near 69355 is October 4, giving a median frost-free growing season of 149 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 69355?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 10 – Mar 24 and set transplants outside around May 12 – May 26, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 69355 get?

About 15.7 inches of precipitation a year and 43 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Scottsbluff Heilig Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Melbeta, NE?

The average high peaks at 91 °F in July, with about 49 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 69355 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Glenberg at the center of ZIP 69355: fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 7.9 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Melbeta, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 69355 came on Feb 28 in 2026, 30 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 30), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Melbeta, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 69355 is 15 h 13 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).