What Zone Is Nebraska In For Gardening?

What Zone Is Nebraska In For Gardening? Before growing anything in Nebraska, you should ask what zone Nebraska is in for gardening. Knowing this can determine your success!

Nebraska’s seasons differ to the extreme. There are super hot summers and freezing winters. Because the temperatures don’t gradually fluctuate, the growing season in Nebraska is shorter. 

To properly prepare for planting in this state, you should familiarize yourself with the hardiness zone of your location. Knowing this will help you plan better and choose the right crops.

In this article, I share Nebraska’s gardening zone, list the best crops to grow in this state, and give you helpful tips to create the most successful garden. 

What Zone Is Nebraska In For Gardening?

The state of Nebraska stretches over four hardiness zones. It starts at the furthest North of Nebraska, where a very, very small area lies in Zone 4a. 

A few cities are in hardiness Zone 4b, but the biggest part of Nebraska is in Zone 5. Broken Bow, O’Neill, and Wayne are some places in Zone 5a. The rest, from Columbus down to Beatrice, lie in Zone 5b. 

The average extreme minimum temperature can start from -10 in the highest zone of Nebraska and reach a low of -30 in the lowest.

Whichever side of the state you live in, you should carefully monitor your temperatures to ensure your crops survive.

What Zone Is Nebraska In For Gardening

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The Best Crops to Grow In Nebraska

The temperatures through Nebraska’s hardiness zones are extremely cold. Here are a few crops that are strong enough to survive these icy winters:

Carrots

Carrots get sweeter in cold temperatures. This makes them perfect for growing in Zone 4. 

Choose dwarf varieties for the best results during the short growing season. 

Leeks

Dark leeks can tolerate freezing temperatures. You should sow your seeds under cover in early Spring. They should be ready to plant out around the end of Spring. 

Spinach

This is a very easy-to-grow vegetable that actually thrives in the winter. It can be planted about 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost. You can also plant them 6 to 8 weeks before the first frost date. 

Broccoli

If you want to plant broccoli, you don’t have to wait until the last frost dates. These plants can handle frost without getting damaged. 

When summer returns, your broccoli should be in full sun for at least 6 hours daily.

 Complete Broccoli Sprout Kit by Handy Pantry & Trellis + Co

What Zone Is Nebraska In For Gardening

Kale 

Kale taste better the colder it gets. You can plant your kale seeds in winter, about 3 to 5 weeks before the last frost date. 

They’re ready for harvest when their leaves are approximately as big as your hand.

Lettuce 

Lettuce is easy to grow, and they thrive in cool temperatures. The seedlings should be fine in light frost. If you plant in increments of two weeks, you’ll have a continuous harvest.

Radishes

This super veggie reaches full maturity in only 30 days! You can plant them more than once in a growing season. If you grow them at the right times, you’ll have enough harvested stock before the winter frost hits. 

You can use your radishes in stews as a potato replacement and even slice them up for salads and sandwiches!

Check Out Small Tillers For Gardening: What And Why

Tips For Growing Crops in Nebraska’s Hardiness Zones

Plant Your Seeds Indoors

The growing season is short in Zone 4 and a little longer in Zone 5. You should start your seeds indoors to ensure they’re ready when Autumn arrives.

Know Your Frost Dates 

The last frost dates in Nebraska’s zones are around the end of April to mid-May. First frost dates range from the end of September to the end of October. This means that these zones have a very short growing season. 

Be Prepared And Plan

You should keep an eye on the local news reports to know the upcoming temperatures. This way, you’ll always be prepared, and successful harvesting seasons are almost guaranteed. 

Choose The Right Veggies

Choose veggies that can be harvested and eaten in about 90 days. Some options are heirloom tomatoes, peppers, and melons. This eliminates the danger of winter and frost ruining your plants before you can enjoy the benefits of your hard work. 

Read more about The Best Vegetables For Square Foot Gardening

Know Your Crops

You should have knowledge about the crops you want to grow in these zones. Knowing when to plant them (before or after the frost dates) is very important. The seed packets usually contain all the information you’ll need. 

Optional: Get A Greenhouse

If you want your plants to survive the frosty days, you could use a greenhouse. A greenhouse ensures healthy plants all year long because they don’t get exposed to harsh winter conditions. 

You can create a greenhouse indoors or build one outside.

Optional - Get A Greenhouse

In Conclusion

Nebraska doesn’t offer a long growing season, but if you plan ahead and choose the right crops, you’ll have a successful harvest. You should closely monitor your area’s temperatures and know its frost dates. 

Opt for a greenhouse or growing tunnels if you want to grow food all year round. There’ll still be a learning curve, but once you get the hang of your growing environment, you won’t look back! You can buy a complete greenhouse setup or design your own. 

I hope you enjoyed this article! If you live in Nebraska or plan to move there, share which crops you grow in the comments. You can also ask any question about growing in Nebraska’s hardiness zones that hasn’t been answered yet.

FAQ’s

What planting zone is Norfolk, Nebraska in?

Norfolk sits in hardiness Zone 5a, with a temperature scale of -20 to - 15 degrees.

What planting zone is Omaha in?

Omaha is located in hardiness Zone 5a, experiencing freezing temperatures up to -15 degrees.

What planting zone is Lincoln NE in?

Lincoln is in hardiness Zone 5b. This area experiences temperature lows of -15 degrees.

What planting zone is Valentine NE?

Valentine sits in Zone 4b. You can expect temperature drops up to -20 degrees.