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Frost dates and planting calendar for Lincoln, Nebraska

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on USDA, NOAA and Colorado State University Extension data. Published by Humblebee.

USDA hardiness zone
6a[1]
Median last spring frost
Apr 24[2]
Median first fall frost
Oct 13[3]
Growing season, median
171 days[4]

The center of Lincoln, Nebraska is in USDA hardiness zone 6a[1]. In half of years the last spring frost comes after April 24, the median date[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Apr 10, half of years Apr 24, 1 in 10 years after May 7Last frostmedian Apr 24First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Oct 24, half of years Oct 13, 1 in 10 years before Sep 29First frostmedian Oct 13Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Mar 27 to Apr 10Mar 27 to Apr 10Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24TenderTender vegetables: plant around Apr 24around Apr 24Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from May 8from May 8
Shaded: the span between the dates frost passes in 9 of 10 years and 1 of 10 years[2][3]. Green: planting windows from the CSU rules applied to the median last frost (GardenFacts calculation)[6]. Exact dates are in the tables below.

NOAA frost dates for Lincoln come from the Lincoln Municipal Airport station, using records from 1991 to 2020[5]. In 9 of 10 years the last spring frost comes after April 10, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after May 7[2]. In the fall, the first frost comes before October 13 in half of years, and before October 24 in 9 of 10 years[3]. These are odds from past records and not a forecast, so any year can be earlier or later[5].

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after April 10 after April 24 after May 7
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before September 29 before October 13 before October 24
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date April 15, median first fall date October 22[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 151 days in 9 of 10 years, 171 days in half of years and 189 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
  • The low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years and 28°F or colder in 100% of years[8].
  • Weather station: Lincoln Municipal Airport (USW00014939), 4.7 miles from the city center, 1,190 feet, 30 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension wrote its vegetable planting guide for Colorado, so treat these dates as a starting point[6]. Hardy vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce, peas and spinach can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost, which works out to March 27 to April 10 in Lincoln[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables such as beets, carrots and potatoes can go in as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost, from April 10 up to the median date[9]. Tender vegetables such as snap beans and sweet corn can be started from seed around April 24[10]. Very tender vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers typically wait 2 or more weeks after the median last frost, so the earliest start is May 8[11].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (April 24) is March 27 to April 10[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (April 24) is April 10, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, April 24[10]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (April 24), is May 8[11]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Mar 27 May 31 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Mar 27 Jun 20 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Mar 27 May 16
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Mar 27 May 26
Onions (hardy)[12] Mar 27 Jul 15
Peas (hardy)[12] Mar 27 May 31
Radishes (hardy)[12] Mar 27 Apr 26
Spinach (hardy)[12] Mar 27 May 6
Turnips (hardy)[12] Mar 27 May 16
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 10 Jun 9
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 10 Jun 19
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 10 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 10 Jun 19
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 10 Aug 13
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Apr 10 Jun 9
Snap beans (tender)[12] Apr 24 Jun 23
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Apr 24 Jun 23
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Apr 24 Jun 18
Summer squash (tender)[12] Apr 24 Jun 13
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] May 8 Aug 1
Eggplant (very tender)[12] May 8 Jul 7 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] May 8 Jul 17 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] May 8 Jul 12 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] May 8 Aug 16
Watermelon (very tender)[12] May 8 Aug 1
Spacing, depth and soil temperature (CSU Extension)
Vegetable Min. soil temp Depth Spacing Days to harvest
Broccoli[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 65
Cabbage[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 85
Kohlrabi[13] 40°F 1/2 in 7-9 in 50
Lettuce[13] 35°F 1/4 in 7-9 in 60
Onions[13] 35°F 1/4 in (seed), 1-2 in (sets) 4-6 in 110
Peas[13] 40°F 1 in 4-6 in 65
Radishes[13] 40°F 1/2 in 2-3 in 30
Spinach[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 40
Turnips[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 50
Beets[13] 40°F 3/4-1 in 4-6 in 60
Carrots[13] 40°F 1/4 in 2-3 in 70
Cauliflower[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in –
Parsnips[13] 35°F 1/2 in 5-6 in 70
Potatoes[13] 45°F – – 125
Swiss chard[13] 40°F 1 in 7-9 in 60
Snap beans[13] 55°F 1-1 1/2 in 6 in 60
Sweet corn[13] 50°F 1-1 1/2 in 12 x 30 in or 9 x 36 in 60-90
Cucumbers[13] 60°F 1 in 6 in trellised, 24-36 in untrellised 55
Summer squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 50
Cantaloupe[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85
Eggplant[13] 60°F 1/4 in 18-24 in 60
Peppers[13] 60°F 1/4 in 15-18 in 70
Tomatoes[13] 50°F 1/4 in 24 in trellised 65
Winter squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 100
Watermelon[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85

Hardiness zone

Zone 6a means the average coldest night of the winter is between -10°F and -5°F, based on 1991 to 2020[1]. The zone is based on winter lows and not on summer heat or frost dates[14]. Lincoln overlaps 23 ZIP code areas, and 98% of the city's land area is in zone 6a while 2% is in zone 5b[15].

Zone 6a: average annual extreme minimum temperature -10°F to -5°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: -8.6°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 6a 98%, zone 5b 2%[15].

All towns in zone 6a and what zone 6a means

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
68516[15] 6a -10 to -5°F
68521[15] 6a -10 to -5°F
68524[15] 6a -10 to -5°F
68507[15] 6a -10 to -5°F
68506[15] 6a -10 to -5°F
68504[15] 6a -10 to -5°F
68502[15] 6a -10 to -5°F
68512[15] 6a -10 to -5°F
68510[15] 6a -10 to -5°F
68522[15] 6a -10 to -5°F
68528[15] 6a -10 to -5°F
68505[15] 6a -10 to -5°F
68526[15] 6a -10 to -5°F
68508[15] 6a -10 to -5°F
68503[15] 6a -10 to -5°F
68520[15] 6a -10 to -5°F
68514[15] 5b -15 to -10°F
68430[15] 6a -10 to -5°F
68527[15] 5b -15 to -10°F
68517[15] 6a -10 to -5°F
68523[15] 6a -10 to -5°F
68336[15] 5b -15 to -10°F
68531[15] 6a -10 to -5°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Lincoln, Nebraska?
The center of Lincoln is in USDA zone 6a[1]. About 98% of the city's land area is zone 6a and 2% is zone 5b[15].
When is the last frost in Lincoln?
The median last spring frost at the NOAA station is April 24, so in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after May 7[2].
When is the first frost in Lincoln?
The median first fall frost is October 13, so in half of years the first frost comes before that date[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before September 29[3].
When to plant tomatoes in Lincoln?
Colorado State University Extension says tomatoes typically go in 2 or more weeks after the average last spring frost[11]. For Lincoln, the earliest start is May 8[11].
How long is the growing season in Lincoln?
The growing season between the last spring and first fall frost is at least 171 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 151 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Lincoln, Nebraska in zone 6a. Zone 6a means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of -10°F to -5°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is minus 8.6°F. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)
  2. Last spring frost (32°F) at this station: in 9 of 10 years the last frost comes after April 10, in half of years after April 24, and in 1 of 10 years after May 7 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is April 24. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  3. First fall frost (32°F) at this station: in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before September 29, in half of years before October 13, and in 9 of 10 years before October 24 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is October 13. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 151 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 171 days in half of years, and at least 189 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Lincoln Municipal Airport weather station (USW00014939), 4.7 miles from the center of Lincoln at 1,190 feet, using 30 years of records from 1991 to 2020. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  6. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips as hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 2-4 weeks before the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  7. Hard freeze (28°F) at this station: the median last spring date is April 15 and the median first fall date is October 22. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  8. At this station the low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years from 1991 to 2020, and 28°F or colder in 100% of years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  9. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard as semi-hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 0-2 weeks before the average last spring frost.... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  10. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash as tender vegetables, with this rule: from seed around the average last spring frost; cucumber and summer squash... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  11. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon as very tender vegetables, with this rule: typically 2 or more weeks after the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  12. GardenFacts calculation: earliest planting date plus CSU days to harvest (table on this page), from the station's median last frost. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  13. CSU Extension vegetable table: soil temperature, depth, spacing, days to harvest (table on this page). CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  14. USDA hardiness zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature (the coldest night of each winter, averaged over 1991 to 2020 for the 2023 map), not on summer heat or frost dates. Each zone spans 10°F and each half zone (a or b)... USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
  15. Lincoln, Nebraska overlaps 23 ZIP code areas. By land area, 98% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 6a, 2% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 5b. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)

Frost dates are probabilities from 1991 to 2020 weather records at one NOAA station, not a forecast. Any year can be earlier or later. The hardiness zone describes the average coldest winter night, not frost dates or summer heat. Spots inside the city can differ (ZIP table). Planting rules come from Colorado State University Extension's guide, written for Colorado. A local extension office may give dates tuned to the area. Planting and harvest dates marked GardenFacts calculation are simple arithmetic from the facts above, not advice from the source.

Hardiness zone data: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed October 30, 2026. This is not the official USDA map. Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension.