Fall in zone 6aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 68512 (Lincoln, NE)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Lincoln Muni AP, NE (8 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 2450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 1350% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)171 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6a-10 to -5°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
51°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 51°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Lincoln 11 SW, 8 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 57°, Fri 53°, Sat 50°.
4-inch depth
54°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 54°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Lincoln 11 SW, 8 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 59°, Fri 56°, Sat 54°.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 68512 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 54°F at 4 inches. Fall pre-emergent window is mostly past. Next: spring, when soil reaches 50°F (typically mid-April to early May).
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: North (cool-season). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Apr 10 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 24 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 7 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Sep 29 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 13 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 24 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 2 | Oct 4 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 24 | Oct 13 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 15 | Oct 22 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 68512
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 24) and first fall frost (Oct 13). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 27–Mar 13 | May 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 13–27 | May 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 13–27 | May 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 27–Mar 13 | May 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 3–24 (transplant) Mar 27–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 8 (transplant) Aug 4–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 13–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 18 (transplant) Jul 7–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Mar 27–Apr 24 (transplant) Mar 27–Apr 24 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 18 (transplant) Jul 7–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 13–27 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) | Jul 7–Aug 4 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 13–27 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) | Jul 7–Aug 4 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 13–27 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 7–Aug 4 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) | Jun 23–Jul 14 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 27–Apr 24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 15 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 27–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 13–27 | Apr 10–May 1 (transplant) Apr 10–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 27–Apr 24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 3–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 20–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 1–15 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 27–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 3–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 27–Mar 27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 13–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 1–29 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | Sep 1–29 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) | Jun 23–Jul 7 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 15–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 27–Apr 3 | May 1–15 (transplant) May 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 27–Apr 3 | May 1–15 (transplant) May 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 27–Apr 3 | May 1–15 (transplant) May 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 27–Apr 3 | May 8–22 (transplant) May 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 27–Apr 3 | May 8–22 (transplant) May 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 13–27 | May 8–22 (transplant) May 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 30–Feb 13 | May 1–8 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 13–27 | May 1–15 (transplant) May 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 10–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 13–27 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 3–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) | Aug 4–Sep 1 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Plants that do well here
Nebraska has a university or garden plant program: GreatPlants. Plant frost-tender annuals after April 24 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Lincoln Muni AP, NE (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00014939), elevation 1,190 ft, 8.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln 11 SW, NE | 8 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 14 |
| Lincoln 8 ENE, NE | 11 mi | Apr 27 | Oct 10 |
| Crete 4ESE, NE | 12 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 12 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 5 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 68512
When is the last frost in 68512?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 68512 is April 24. For a more cautious planting date, use May 7, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 68512?
The average first fall freeze is October 13. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 29.
What hardiness zone is 68512?
ZIP 68512 is in USDA zone 6a (-10 to -5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 68512 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
68523 Yankee Hill 68502 Lincoln 68516 Lincoln 68522 Lincoln 68506 Lincoln 68430 Roca 68508 Lincoln 68510 Lincoln
Other ZIP codes in Lancaster County
68317 68336 68339 68358 68368 68372 68402 68404 68419 68428 68430 68438 68461 68462 68502 68503 68504 68505 68506 68507 68508 68510 68514 68516 All Lancaster County frost dates · Nebraska frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.