Fall in zone 5aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 69340 (Sheridan County, NE)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Ellsworth 15 NNE, NE (8 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 1250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)141 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone5a-20 to -15°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 69340, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
51°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 52°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Whitman 5 ENE (39 mi).
4-inch depth
52°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 53°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Whitman 5 ENE (39 mi).
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 69340 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 52°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent window is mostly past. Next: spring, when soil reaches 50°F (typically mid-April to early May).
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: North (cool-season). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | May 1 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 12 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 26 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Sep 15 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 1 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 14 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 23 | Sep 21 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 12 | Oct 1 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 2 | Oct 10 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 69340
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 12) and first fall frost (Oct 1). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 17–31 | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 3–17 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 3–17 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 17–31 | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 17–31 | Apr 21–May 12 (transplant) Apr 14–May 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–27 (transplant) Jul 23–Aug 20 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 31–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–27 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 17–31 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 23 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 17–31 | Apr 14–May 12 (transplant) Apr 14–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 23 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 3–17 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 3–17 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 3–17 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | Jun 11–Jul 2 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 17–31 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 14–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 14–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 31–Apr 14 | Apr 28–May 19 (transplant) Apr 28–May 26 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 14–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 21–May 19 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–23 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 7–May 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 14–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 21–May 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 17–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–23 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 31–Apr 28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | Jun 11–25 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 14–21 | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 14–21 | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 14–21 | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 14–21 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 14–21 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 31–Apr 14 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 17–Mar 3 | May 19–26 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 31–Apr 14 | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 28–May 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 3–17 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) Apr 21–May 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Plants that do well here
Nebraska has a university or garden plant program: GreatPlants. Plant frost-tender annuals after May 12 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Ellsworth 15 NNE, NE (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00252647), elevation 3,970 ft, 8.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ellsworth 2W, NE | 9 mi | May 14 | Oct 2 |
| Crescent Lake Nwr, NE | 30 mi | May 13 | Sep 29 |
| Alliance Muni AP, NE | 32 mi | May 22 | Sep 22 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 10 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 69340
When is the last frost in 69340?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 69340 is May 12. For a more cautious planting date, use May 26, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 69340?
The average first fall freeze is October 1. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 15.
What hardiness zone is 69340?
ZIP 69340 is in USDA zone 5a (-20 to -15°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 69340 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
69335 69351 69333 69350 Hyannis 69366 69301 Alliance 69148 Lisco 69343 Gordon
Other ZIP codes in Sheridan County
69335 69347 69351 69360 69365 All Sheridan County frost dates · Nebraska frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.