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

Planting zone for 69367 — Whitney, NE

ZIP code 69367 (Whitney, Dawes County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 14 and the first fall frost September 30.

Where ZIP 69367 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 14
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 Whitney, 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 Whitney, NE

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 14median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 27only 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 3 and returns around October 9.

From the NOAA station Chadron Municipal Airport, NE — 11 miles away, elevation 3,317 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 69367

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 23
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
TomatoesTransplant · May 21 – Jun 4
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 28 – Jun 11
BeansSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 21 – Jun 4
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 14) 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 69367 came on Mar 5 — 26 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31).

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 Whitney, NE.

Soil in Whitney, NE

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 69367 is Bufton — silty clay loam, well drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.5slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Bufton-Hisle complex, 0 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 69367; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Whitney, NE

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days55days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights180nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,804base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 20 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 01 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 38 °F, low 13 °F 38°13° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 15 °F 41°15° FebMarch: average high 52 °F, low 24 °F 52°24° MarApril: average high 60 °F, low 32 °F 60°32° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 42 °F 70°42° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 52 °F 82°52° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 60 °F 91°60° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 57 °F 89°57° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 47 °F 79°47° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 33 °F 63°33° OctNovember: average high 50 °F, low 21 °F 50°21° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 13 °F 39°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: Chadron Municipal Airport, NE (11 mi away); precipitation: Crawford 6.8 E, NE (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

693395a
Crawford, NE · 17 mi
693375a
Chadron, NE · 17 mi
577635a
Oelrichs, SD · 22 mi
693465a
Harrison, NE · 27 mi
693545a
Marsland, NE · 30 mi
577825a
Smithwick, SD · 31 mi
693485a
Hemingford, NE · 34 mi
577665a
Oral, SD · 38 mi

Nebraska planting zones →

Questions about 69367

What planting zone is ZIP code 69367?

ZIP code 69367 (Whitney, 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 Whitney, NE?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 69367 is May 14; after May 27 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Chadron Municipal Airport station.

When is the first frost in Whitney, NE?

The median first fall frost near 69367 is September 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 138 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 69367?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 19 – Apr 2 and set transplants outside around May 21 – Jun 4, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 69367 get?

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

How hot do summers get in Whitney, NE?

The average high peaks at 91 °F in July, with about 55 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 69367 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Bufton at the center of ZIP 69367: silty clay loam, well drained, pH about 7.5 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Whitney, NE in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 69367 came on Mar 5 in 2026, 26 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 31), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Whitney, NE?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 69367 is 15 h 20 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).