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When to plant in Beatrice, NE

USDA Zone 6a

Everything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Beatrice, Nebraska — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.

Zone 6a means Beatrice sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.

Station · BEATRICE 1N · 2.9 km
Last spring frost
April 24
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
October 15
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
174 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for BeatriceA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Beatrice: last spring frost around April 24, first fall frost around October 15, about 174 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

Frost probability

BEATRICE 1N · 1991–2020

The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Beatrice’s own odds, recorded at BEATRICE 1N.

Frost-probability curves for BeatriceProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around April 24 and the first fall frost around October 15, giving about 174 frost-free days.
Last spring frostFirst fall frostbold = 32°F · thin = 28°F / 36°F · dot = 50% date · band = 10–90% window
ThresholdSPRING 10%SPRING 50%SPRING 90%FALL 10%FALL 50%FALL 90%
36°FMay 13May 2Apr 19Sep 22Oct 5Oct 19
32°FMay 6Apr 24Apr 9Sep 30Oct 15Oct 27
28°FApr 29Apr 14Mar 31Oct 9Oct 23Nov 4

Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.

What to plant now

TODAY · JULY 19
Fall sowopen now
Rutabaga
July 9July 23
Fall sowin 4 days
Broccoli
July 23August 6
Fall sowin 4 days
Cabbage
July 23August 6
Fall sowin 4 days
Carrot
July 23August 6
Fall sowin 4 days
Cauliflower
July 23August 6
Fall sowin 4 days
Napa Cabbage
July 23August 20
Fall sowin 18 days
Beet
August 6August 20
Fall sowin 18 days
Collards
August 6September 3
Fall sowin 18 days
Endive
August 6August 20
Fall sowin 18 days
Escarole
August 6August 20
Fall sowin 18 days
Fennel (Bulb)
August 6August 20
Fall sowin 18 days
Kale
August 6September 3
Fall sowin 18 days
Kohlrabi
August 6September 3
Fall sowin 18 days
Peas
August 6August 20
Fall sowin 18 days
Radicchio
August 6August 20
Fall sowin 18 days
Swiss Chard
August 6August 20
Fall sowin 18 days
Turnip
August 6September 3

Add these crops to your calendar (.ics) ↓

Full-year planting calendar

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall sow

Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Beatrice, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 39 km · complete 32°F normals

When stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.

BEATRICE 1N
Primary
3 km · 395 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 24
FALL
Oct 15
VIRGINIA
21 km · 471 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 22
FALL
Oct 20
CRETE 4ESE
39 km · 445 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 23
FALL
Oct 12

Beatrice planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Beatrice, NE?

On average, the last spring frost in Beatrice is around April 24 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.

When is the first fall frost in Beatrice, NE?

The first fall frost in Beatrice typically arrives around October 15 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.

What hardiness zone is Beatrice in?

Beatrice is in USDA hardiness zone 6a. In zone 6a, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.

How long is the growing season in Beatrice?

There are roughly 174 frost-free days in Beatrice (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 24 to the first fall frost near October 15.

When should I plant tomatoes in Beatrice?

In Beatrice, start tomato seeds indoors around February 27–March 13, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 1 once the danger of frost has passed.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Beatrice

An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Beatrice’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at BEATRICE 1N, 3 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.

Cite this page
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Beatrice, NE — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00250622. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/nebraska/beatrice.
When to Plant in Beatrice, NE — Frost Dates & Zone 6a — BlissGarden