Fall in zone 5bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 68641 (Howells, 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, Howells, NE (1 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 2550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 1150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)168 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone5b-15 to -10°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
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
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 68641 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring 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 13 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 25 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 8 |
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 25 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 11 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 25 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 4 | Oct 1 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 25 | Oct 11 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 16 | Oct 21 |
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 68641
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 25) and first fall frost (Oct 11). 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 28–Mar 14 | May 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 14–28 | May 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 14–28 | May 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 28–Mar 14 | May 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Apr 4–25 (transplant) Mar 28–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–Sep 6 (transplant) Aug 2–30 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 14–Apr 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 19–Aug 16 (transplant) Jul 5–Aug 2 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Mar 28–Apr 25 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 19–Aug 16 (transplant) Jul 5–Aug 2 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 14–28 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Jul 5–Aug 2 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 14–28 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Jul 5–Aug 2 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 14–28 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) | Jul 5–Aug 2 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Jun 21–Jul 12 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 28–Mar 14 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–16 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 28–Apr 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 28–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 14–28 | Apr 11–May 2 (transplant) Apr 11–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–16 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 28–Apr 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–16 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 4–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 19–Aug 2 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 21–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 28–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–16 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 28–Mar 28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 19–Aug 2 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 14–Apr 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–16 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 31–Feb 14 | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 30–Sep 27 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Jun 21–Jul 5 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 16–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 28–Apr 4 | May 2–16 (transplant) May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 28–Apr 4 | May 2–16 (transplant) May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 28–Apr 4 | May 2–16 (transplant) May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 28–Apr 4 | May 9–23 (transplant) May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 28–Apr 4 | May 9–23 (transplant) May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 14–28 | May 9–23 (transplant) May 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 31–Feb 14 | May 2–9 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 14–28 | May 2–16 (transplant) May 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 11–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 14–28 | Apr 11–25 (transplant) Apr 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 25–May 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 28–Apr 11 (transplant) | Aug 2–30 (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 25 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Howells, NE (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00254035), elevation 1,520 ft, 1.4 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarkson, NE | 6 mi | Apr 27 | Oct 10 |
| W Pt, NE | 17 mi | Apr 28 | Oct 12 |
| Stanton, NE | 19 mi | Apr 28 | Oct 9 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 3 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 68641
When is the last frost in 68641?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 68641 is April 25. For a more cautious planting date, use May 8, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 68641?
The average first fall freeze is October 11. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 25.
What hardiness zone is 68641?
ZIP 68641 is in USDA zone 5b (-15 to -10°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 68641 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
68629 Clarkson 68633 Dodge 68664 Snyder 68643 Leigh 68659 Rogers 68057 Scribner 68788 West Point 68716 Beemer
Other ZIP codes in Colfax County
68629 68659 68661 All Colfax 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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- Weekly yard to-dos
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.