When to plant in Kearney, NE
USDA Zone 5bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Kearney, Nebraska — all computed from Kearney's nearest NOAA weather station.
Zone 5b means Kearney 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 Kearney is now 5 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
KEARNEY 4 NE · 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 Kearney’s own odds, recorded at KEARNEY 4 NE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 20 | May 8 | Apr 27 | Sep 19 | Oct 1 | Oct 13 |
| 32°F | May 12 | Apr 30 | Apr 16 | Sep 25 | Oct 10 | Oct 22 |
| 28°F | May 3 | Apr 19 | Apr 4 | Oct 3 | Oct 19 | Oct 30 |
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 Kearney, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 38 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.
Kearney planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Kearney, NE?
Plan for the last spring frost in Kearney around April 30 (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 Kearney, NE?
Expect Kearney's first fall frost near October 10 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Kearney in?
Kearney 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 Kearney?
There are roughly 163 frost-free days in Kearney (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 30 to the first fall frost near October 10.
When should I plant tomatoes in Kearney?
In Kearney, start tomato seeds indoors around March 5–March 19, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 7 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Kearney
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Kearney’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Lexington · 57 km
- Hastings · 60 km
- Grand Island · 66 km
- North Platte · 148 km
- Columbus · 166 km
- Norfolk · 202 km
- Lincoln · 203 km
- Beatrice · 203 km
Frost dates recorded at KEARNEY 4 NE, 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 Kearney, NE — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00254335. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/nebraska/kearney.