When to plant in Hastings, NE
USDA Zone 6aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Hastings, Nebraska — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Zone 6a means Hastings sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
Frost probability
HASTINGS MUNI 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 Hastings’s own odds, recorded at HASTINGS MUNI AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 14 | May 1 | Apr 19 | Sep 25 | Oct 7 | Oct 20 |
| 32°F | May 5 | Apr 22 | Apr 8 | Oct 2 | Oct 16 | Oct 28 |
| 28°F | Apr 26 | Apr 12 | Mar 29 | Oct 10 | Oct 25 | Nov 7 |
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 Hastings, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 30 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.
Hastings planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Hastings, NE?
Hastings's average last spring frost falls near April 22 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in Hastings, NE?
In Hastings, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 16 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Hastings in?
Hastings 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 Hastings?
There are roughly 177 frost-free days in Hastings (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 22 to the first fall frost near October 16.
When should I plant tomatoes in Hastings?
In Hastings, start tomato seeds indoors around February 25–March 11, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 29 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Hastings
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Hastings’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at HASTINGS MUNI AP, 3 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 Hastings, NE — Frost Dates & Zone 6a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00094949. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/nebraska/hastings.