When to plant in Scottsbluff, NE
USDA Zone 5bScottsbluff, Nebraska frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Zone 5b means Scottsbluff sees real winter cold, but a good range of perennials survive; the frost dates above govern when annual vegetables go out.
Frost probability
SCOTTSBLUFF 1E · 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 Scottsbluff’s own odds, recorded at SCOTTSBLUFF 1E.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 31 | May 18 | May 6 | Sep 12 | Sep 24 | Oct 6 |
| 32°F | May 21 | May 8 | Apr 25 | Sep 19 | Oct 3 | Oct 16 |
| 28°F | May 11 | Apr 28 | Apr 13 | Sep 28 | Oct 12 | Oct 25 |
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 Scottsbluff, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 9 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.
Scottsbluff planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Scottsbluff, NE?
Scottsbluff's average last spring frost falls near May 8 — 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 Scottsbluff, NE?
Expect Scottsbluff's first fall frost near October 3 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Scottsbluff in?
Scottsbluff 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 Scottsbluff?
There are roughly 148 frost-free days in Scottsbluff (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around May 8 to the first fall frost near October 3.
When should I plant tomatoes in Scottsbluff?
In Scottsbluff, start tomato seeds indoors around March 13–March 27, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 15 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Scottsbluff
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Scottsbluff’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Cheyenne · 125 km
- Sterling · 144 km
- Wellington · 172 km
- Laramie · 173 km
- Fort Morgan · 180 km
- Severance · 182 km
- Greeley · 186 km
- Windsor · 187 km
Frost dates recorded at SCOTTSBLUFF 1E, 2 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 Scottsbluff, NE — Frost Dates & Zone 5b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00257667. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/nebraska/scottsbluff.