USDA zone 5b in Nebraska
USDA plant hardiness zone 5b covers 97 locations across Nebraska (average annual extreme minimum −15 to −10 °F): Ainsworth, NE, Albion, NE, Alliance, NE, Ansley, NE, Arthur, NE, Aurora, NE, and 91 more. Average last spring frost across this group ranges April 15 (Valley) to May 22 (Alliance), and growing seasons run 122–187 days (Alliance to Valley) — even within one state, because hardiness sets winter survival, not planting dates. The table below gives every Nebraska location's own frost dates; the printable planting calendar uses Madison, this group's median-season location.
- USDA zone
- 5b−15 to −10 °F
- Last frost range
- Apr 15–May 22avg, 32°F
- First frost range
- Sep 22–Oct 21avg, 32°F
- Growing season range
- 122–187days
Locations in this group
Every location below shares this zone and a nearby weather station, but keeps its own frost dates — find your town for its own numbers, or use the ZIP planner on the home page for an instant personalized answer.
| Location | Also covers | Nearest station | Last frost | First frost | Season (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ainsworth | Johnstown | Ainsworth | May 2 | Oct 8 | 158 |
| Albion | Newman Grove, Lindsay, Cedar Rapids, Primrose | Albion | May 1 | Oct 5 | 157 |
| Alliance | — | Alliance Muni Ap | May 22 | Sep 22 | 122 |
| Ansley | Mason, Miller, Litchfield | Mason City | May 3 | Oct 5 | 153 |
| Arthur | — | Arthur | May 9 | Oct 3 | 144 |
| Aurora | Hampton | Aurora | Apr 21 | Oct 15 | 176 |
| Beaver | Hendley | Beaver City | May 4 | Oct 4 | 150 |
| Bellevue | Offutt AFB | Springfield 7e | Apr 17 | Oct 19 | 183 |
| Belmar | Martin, Sarben | Kingsley Dam | Apr 22 | Oct 18 | 176 |
| Benkelman | Max, Parks | Benkelman 1n | Apr 30 | Oct 12 | 163 |
| Big Springs | — | Big Springs | May 10 | Oct 3 | 146 |
| Blair | — | Blair | Apr 22 | Oct 17 | 177 |
| Brady | — | Brady | May 2 | Oct 10 | 161 |
| Broken Bow | — | Broken Bow 2 W | May 10 | Oct 1 | 142 |
| Callaway | Sumner, Eddyville | Oconto | May 10 | Oct 1 | 145 |
| Cambridge | Arapahoe, Bartley, Holbrook | Cambridge | May 3 | Oct 5 | 156 |
| Cedar Creek | — | Gretna 4ne | Apr 21 | Oct 18 | 179 |
| Central | Archer, Palmer, Polk, Clarks, Hordville, Marquette | Central City | Apr 28 | Oct 10 | 165 |
| Clarkson | Howells, Dodge, Rogers | Howells | Apr 25 | Oct 11 | 168 |
| Columbus | Schuyler, Leigh, Duncan, Platte Center, Creston | Columbus 3 Ne | Apr 21 | Oct 15 | 174 |
| Comstock | — | Comstock | May 4 | Oct 4 | 152 |
| Culbertson | — | Culbertson | May 2 | Oct 9 | 158 |
| Curtis | Maywood, Moorefield | Curtis | May 1 | Oct 9 | 160 |
| Dalton | — | Dalton | Apr 28 | Oct 13 | 166 |
| David | Linwood, Prague, Brainard, Bruno, Dwight, Bellwood, +1 more | David City | Apr 26 | Oct 11 | 168 |
| Elgin | Petersburg | Elgin | Apr 29 | Oct 9 | 162 |
| Fairmont | Henderson, McCool Junction | Fairmont | Apr 25 | Oct 14 | 170 |
| Farnam | Eustis | Eustis 2 Nw | Apr 30 | Oct 12 | 165 |
| Fremont | North Bend, Hooper, Arlington, Cedar Bluffs, Ames, Fontanelle, +3 more | Fremont | Apr 23 | Oct 15 | 172 |
| Fullerton | Genoa, St. Edward, Silver Creek, Monroe, Belgrade | Genoa 2 W | Apr 30 | Oct 5 | 157 |
| Gering | — | Scottsbluff Heilig Ap | May 5 | Oct 4 | 149 |
| Gothenburg | Willow Island, Cozad | Gothenburg | Apr 30 | Oct 9 | 162 |
| Grand Island | Alda, Chapman, St. Libory, Phillips | Grand Island Ap | Apr 23 | Oct 15 | 174 |
| Gurley | — | Sidney 6 Nnw | May 8 | Oct 4 | 149 |
| Haigler | — | Haigler | May 5 | Oct 5 | 152 |
| Hayes Center | — | Hayes Center 1nw | May 3 | Oct 10 | 159 |
| Hyannis | — | Whitman 5 Ene | May 4 | Oct 8 | 155 |
| Imperial | Lamar | Imperial | May 7 | Oct 5 | 150 |
| Indianola | — | Mccook Muni Ap | May 1 | Oct 9 | 160 |
| Kearney | Glenwood, Odessa, Shelton, Gibbon, Riverdale, Amherst | Kearney 4 Ne | Apr 30 | Oct 10 | 162 |
| Kenesaw | Juniata, Roseland, Ayr | Hastings Muni Ap | Apr 22 | Oct 16 | 176 |
| Lexington | Elm Creek, Elwood, Overton, Smithfield | Canaday Steam Plt | Apr 26 | Oct 13 | 169 |
| Lincoln | Davey, Malcolm, Raymond | Lincoln Muni Ap | Apr 24 | Oct 13 | 171 |
| Lindy | — | Crofton | Apr 30 | Oct 8 | 160 |
| Lodgepole | — | Lodgepole 8n | May 14 | Sep 29 | 135 |
| Loomis | — | Holdrege | May 2 | Oct 11 | 162 |
| Louisville | Nehawka | Weeping Water | Apr 23 | Oct 16 | 175 |
| Loup | Ashton, Arcadia | Loup City | May 2 | Oct 8 | 158 |
| Lyons | — | Walthill 1e | May 1 | Oct 6 | 156 |
| Madison * | Humphrey | Madison | Apr 30 | Oct 6 | 160 |
| Madrid | Grant | Madrid | May 4 | Oct 7 | 156 |
| Maxwell | — | North Platte Rgnl Ap | May 11 | Oct 1 | 142 |
| Minden | Axtell, Holstein, Heartwell | Minden | Apr 26 | Oct 12 | 168 |
| Mullen | Seneca | Mullen | May 7 | Oct 5 | 150 |
| Norfolk | Battle Creek, Hoskins, Meadow Grove | Norfolk 4w | May 1 | Oct 4 | 156 |
| North Loup | — | N Loup | May 5 | Oct 3 | 150 |
| North Platte | Wellfleet | N Platte Exp Farm | May 3 | Oct 10 | 158 |
| O'Neill | Emmet | O'neill | May 3 | Oct 5 | 155 |
| Ogallala | Brule | Ogallala | May 1 | Oct 12 | 163 |
| Ord | — | Ord Evelyn Sharp Fld | May 5 | Oct 3 | 150 |
| Oshkosh | Lewellen | Oshkosh | May 9 | Oct 2 | 144 |
| Page | — | Ewing | May 7 | Sep 30 | 144 |
| Plainview | Brunswick | Creighton | Apr 30 | Oct 6 | 158 |
| Potter | Dix | Kimball 2ne | May 15 | Sep 26 | 132 |
| Prairie Home | — | Lincoln 8 Ene | Apr 27 | Oct 10 | 164 |
| Randolph | Hartington | Hartington | Apr 30 | Oct 5 | 159 |
| Ravenna | Cairo, Howard City (Boelus), Pleasanton, Hazard, Rockville | Ravenna | May 4 | Oct 3 | 150 |
| Red Cloud | Blue Hill, Lawrence, Bladen, Inavale | Red Cloud | May 1 | Oct 5 | 157 |
| Seward | Milford, Beaver Crossing, Utica, Bee, Goehner, Garland, +1 more | Seward | Apr 26 | Oct 12 | 169 |
| Sidney | Peetz | Sidney Muni Ap | May 15 | Sep 30 | 135 |
| St. Paul | Dannebrog, Farwell | Saint Paul | Apr 23 | Oct 14 | 172 |
| Stanton | Pilger | Stanton 7ne | Apr 30 | Oct 7 | 160 |
| Stockville | — | Medicine Creek Dam | May 4 | Oct 5 | 154 |
| Stratton | Palisade | Trenton Dam 1n | Apr 29 | Oct 13 | 166 |
| Stromsburg | Osceola, Shelby, Benedict | Osceola | Apr 25 | Oct 14 | 170 |
| Surprise | Rising, Gresham, Ulysses | Surprise | Apr 29 | Oct 9 | 163 |
| Sutherland | Hershey | Hershey 5 Sse | May 4 | Oct 9 | 156 |
| Syracuse | Talmage, Burr, Lorton | Syracuse | Apr 25 | Oct 11 | 168 |
| Tecumseh | Sterling, Johnson, Cook, Elk Creek | Tecumseh 1s | Apr 26 | Oct 10 | 164 |
| Tekamah | Decatur, Craig, Herman | Tekamah | Apr 28 | Oct 10 | 165 |
| Thedford | Halsey | Purdum | May 9 | Oct 2 | 143 |
| Tryon | Stapleton | Stapleton 5w | May 8 | Oct 3 | 146 |
| Valley | Yutan, Venice | Valley Nws | Apr 15 | Oct 21 | 187 |
| Valparaiso | — | Raymond 2e | Apr 22 | Oct 16 | 175 |
| Wahoo | Mead, Ceresco, Ithaca, Memphis | Mead 6s | Apr 25 | Oct 13 | 170 |
| Wallace | Elsie | Wallace 2w | May 4 | Oct 4 | 152 |
| Wauneta | Enders | Imperial Muni Ap | May 2 | Oct 11 | 160 |
| Wausa | Magnet, McLean | Osmond | Apr 30 | Oct 6 | 160 |
| Waverly | Springfield, Melia, Ashland, Greenwood, South Bend | Ashland #2 | Apr 23 | Oct 16 | 175 |
| West Point | Wisner, Oakland, Scribner, Snyder, Beemer, Uehling | W Pt | Apr 28 | Oct 12 | 165 |
| Westerville | — | Broken Bow Muni Ap | May 1 | Oct 7 | 157 |
| Weston | Malmo | Weston 3nw | Apr 23 | Oct 13 | 174 |
| Winside | Carroll | Wayne | Apr 29 | Oct 11 | 163 |
| Wolbach | Cotesfield, Scotia | Greeley | May 5 | Oct 2 | 149 |
| Wood Lake | — | Valentine Nwr | Apr 30 | Oct 11 | 163 |
| Wood River | Doniphan, Giltner | Hastings 4n | Apr 25 | Oct 14 | 171 |
| York | Bradshaw, Waco | York | Apr 22 | Oct 18 | 178 |
* Madison is this group's median-season location — the calendar below is computed from its data.
Data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (public domain) and USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Planting windows synthesized from U.S. Cooperative Extension guides.
Planting calendar (Madison, representative)
Computed from Madison's average frost dates — the median-season location in this Nebraskazone 5b group. hatched = start seeds indoors, solid green = plant out, teal = a fall sowing, and the terracotta dot marks the estimated first harvest. Ranges are extension-guide planning guidance, not guarantees — your own location's dates may run a week or two earlier or later (see the table above).
- Start indoors
- Plant out
- Fall sowing
- First harvest
| Crop | Frost tolerance | Start indoors | Plant out | First harvest | Fall planting | Season fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Tender | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | May 7 – May 14 | Jul 6 – Jul 26 | — | matures comfortably |
| Pepper | Very tender | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | May 14 – May 21 | Jul 13 – Aug 12 | — | matures comfortably |
| Cucumber | Tender | Apr 2 – Apr 9 | May 7 – May 14 | Jun 26 – Jul 16 | — | matures comfortably |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Tender | — | May 7 – May 14 | Jun 21 – Jul 6 | — | matures comfortably |
| Bush bean | Tender | — | May 7 – May 14 | Jun 26 – Jul 6 | Aug 7 – Aug 17 | matures comfortably |
| Sweet corn | Tender | — | Apr 30 – May 14 | Jun 29 – Jul 29 | — | matures comfortably |
| Basil | Very tender | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | May 7 – May 14 | Jun 6 – Jun 21 | — | matures comfortably |
| Lettuce | Half-hardy | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | Apr 2 – Apr 16 | May 17 – Jun 1 | Jul 24 – Aug 8 | matures comfortably |
| Pea | Hardy | — | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | May 13 – May 28 | Jul 14 – Jul 29 | matures comfortably |
| Spinach | Hardy | — | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | Apr 28 – May 8 | Aug 3 – Aug 13 | matures comfortably |
| Carrot | Half-hardy | — | Apr 9 – Apr 16 | Jun 8 – Jun 28 | Jul 4 – Jul 24 | matures comfortably |
| Broccoli | Half-hardy | Mar 5 – Mar 19 | Apr 2 – Apr 16 | May 27 – Jun 16 | Jul 9 – Jul 29 | matures comfortably |
Which crops fit this growing season
Using Madison's own 160-day growing season (32°F, NOAA 1991–2020 median) against each crop's real days-to-maturity range: 12 of 12 crops mature here with comfortable margin. A different location in the table above with a longer or shorter season will get a different mix — the ZIP planner on the home page gives your own.
Frost & freeze dates (Madison)
From NOAA's 1991–2020 Climate Normals at station USC00255080. The median (p50) is the average date; the 90%-safe column is the date the freeze has passed in about 9 years out of 10 — the conservative date to plant after or harvest before.
| Threshold | Last spring — avg | Last spring — 90%-safe | First fall — avg | First fall — 90%-safe | Season (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 8 | May 20 | Sep 28 | Oct 11 | 142 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 30 | May 12 | Oct 6 | Oct 20 | 160 |
| 28°F | Apr 19 | May 3 | Oct 17 | Oct 29 | 180 |
| 24°F | Apr 9 | Apr 23 | Oct 26 | Nov 7 | 201 |
Growing degree days
Growing degree days (GDD) accumulate warmth above a base temperature over the year — a better predictor of crop development than the calendar alone. This group's median GDD (base 50°F) across all 97 locations is 3,168; Madison's own reading is shown below.
| Model | °F·days | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Base 50°F (warm-season) | 3,012 | standard warm-season base (tomato, corn, beans) |
| Base 40°F (cool-season) | 5,092 | cool-season crops (brassicas, greens) |
Hardiness zone 5b in Nebraska
Zone 5b means an average annual extreme minimum winter temperature of about −15 to −10 °F on the USDA's 2023 map — the number that tells you which perennials, shrubs, and trees reliably survive an average winter here. It does not set your planting dates, which come from the frost calendar above. Nebraska spans 3 hardiness zones in this dataset — see all Nebraska locations for the full range, including zones5a, 6a.
Explore zone 5b in other states at zone 5b, or see all USDA hardiness zones.
Frequently asked questions
- What does USDA hardiness zone 5b mean in Nebraska?
- Zone 5b means an average annual extreme minimum winter temperature of −15 to −10 °F — the standard USDA measure of which perennials survive winter. 97 locations in Nebraska fall in this zone. It does not set planting dates; see the frost calendar below for that.
- Where in Nebraska's zone 5b is the growing season longest?
- Valley runs the longest season on this page at about 187 days; Alliance is shortest at about 122 days — they share the same hardiness zone, but they sit at different weather stations, so their frost calendars differ.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Nebraska's zone 5b?
- Using Madison's frost dates (this page's median-season location): start seeds indoors about Mar 5 – Mar 19, then transplant outside about May 7 – May 14. Your own location in the table above may differ by a week or two — use the ZIP planner on the home page for your exact station's dates.
- Does every location in Nebraska's zone 5b have the same frost dates?
- No — they do not all share a weather station, so frost dates vary by a week or more across the 97 locations listed (see the table above for each location's own dates).
Sources & method
Frost, freeze, growing-season, and growing-degree-day figures are NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, one reading per location's own nearest station (see the table above). The hardiness zone is the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023, matched to each location's ZIP. Planting windows are computed by counting from the average last and first frost using per-crop offsets synthesized from U.S. Cooperative Extension guides — the full method and citations are on the methodology page.