When to plant in Lexington, NE
USDA Zone 5bLexington, Nebraska frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
In zone 5b, Lexington gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
The average first fall frost in Lexington is now 5 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
CANADAY STEAM PLT · 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 Lexington’s own odds, recorded at CANADAY STEAM PLT.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 17 | May 4 | Apr 24 | Sep 21 | Oct 3 | Oct 15 |
| 32°F | May 7 | Apr 26 | Apr 13 | Sep 29 | Oct 13 | Oct 24 |
| 28°F | Apr 30 | Apr 14 | Mar 31 | Oct 7 | Oct 21 | Nov 2 |
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 Lexington, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 39 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.
Lexington planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Lexington, NE?
Plan for the last spring frost in Lexington around April 26 (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 Lexington, NE?
Expect Lexington's first fall frost near October 13 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Lexington in?
Lexington 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 Lexington?
Lexington has about 170 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 26) and first fall frost (October 13).
When should I plant tomatoes in Lexington?
For Lexington, sow tomatoes indoors about March 1–March 15 and move the seedlings out around May 3, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Lexington
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Lexington’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Kearney · 57 km
- North Platte · 93 km
- Hastings · 116 km
- Grand Island · 118 km
- Columbus · 213 km
- Hays · 214 km
- Norfolk · 238 km
- Lincoln · 259 km
Frost dates recorded at CANADAY STEAM PLT, 10 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 Lexington, NE — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00251450. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/nebraska/lexington.