When to plant in Grand Island, NE
USDA Zone 5bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Grand Island, Nebraska — all computed from Grand Island's nearest NOAA weather station.
Zone 5b means Grand Island sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
The average first fall frost in Grand Island is now 6 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
GRAND ISLAND AP · 1991–2020The 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 Grand Island’s own odds, recorded at GRAND ISLAND AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 15 | May 3 | Apr 21 | Sep 22 | Oct 5 | Oct 18 |
| 32°F | May 6 | Apr 23 | Apr 9 | Sep 29 | Oct 15 | Oct 27 |
| 28°F | Apr 27 | Apr 12 | Mar 31 | Oct 9 | Oct 23 | Nov 5 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Grand Island, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 31 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen 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.
Grand Island planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Grand Island, NE?
Plan for the last spring frost in Grand Island around April 23 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Grand Island, NE?
The first fall frost in Grand Island typically arrives around October 15 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Grand Island in?
Grand Island is in USDA hardiness zone 5b. In zone 5b, winters are cold — pick cold-hardy varieties and protect tender crops.
How long is the growing season in Grand Island?
There are roughly 175 frost-free days in Grand Island (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 23 to the first fall frost near October 15.
When should I plant tomatoes in Grand Island?
In Grand Island, start tomato seeds indoors around February 26–March 12, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 30 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Grand Island
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Grand Island’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at GRAND ISLAND AP, 6 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Grand Island, NE — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014935. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/nebraska/grand-island.