Frost Dates for Lexington, NE 68850
Last spring frost May 4 · First fall frost September 29 · 148 frost-free days · USDA Zone 5b
ZIP 68850 has about 12,400 people.
Moderate season: 148 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 22–May 16 (24 days). Fall frost risk spans September 15–October 14 (29 days).
Frost probability for 68850
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 16 | May 4 | April 22 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 15 | September 29 | October 14 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at GOTHENBURG (37.2 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 148-day season in Lexington
In Lexington (148 frost-free days, a moderate season), 34 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 21 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 30 | May 18–May 25 | 106 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 106 available after May 18. | May 30 |
| Pepper | Mar 23 | May 18–May 25 | 106 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 106 available after May 18. | Jun 4 |
| Lettuce | Mar 9 | Apr 6–Apr 13 | 183 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 8; both mature before Oct 6. | Aug 8 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 13–Apr 20 | 190 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 190 available after Apr 13. | Jul 28 |
| Cucumber | Apr 13 | May 18–May 25 | 120 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 120 available after May 18. | Jul 3 |
| Beans | — | May 11–May 25 | 134 | two-plantings: Plant May 11 and again by Jul 10; both mature before Sep 22. | Jul 10 |
| Peas | — | Mar 9–May 18 | 211 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 211 available after Mar 9. | Jul 19 |
| Zucchini | Apr 20 | May 18–May 25 | 120 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 120 available after May 18. | Jul 8 |
| Onion | Feb 9 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 183 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 183 available after Apr 6. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 9–Apr 27 | 225 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 9 and again by Aug 27; both mature before Oct 20. | Aug 27 |
| Kale | Feb 23 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 197 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 20. | Aug 12 |
| Broccoli | Mar 9 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 183 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 183 available after Apr 6. | Jul 4 |
| Cabbage | Mar 9 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 197 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 197 available after Apr 6. | Jul 28 |
| Radish | — | Mar 9–Jun 1 | 211 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 9 and again by Aug 28; both mature before Oct 6. | Aug 28 |
| Beets | — | Mar 9–Jun 1 | 211 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 9 and again by Jul 29; both mature before Oct 6. | Jul 29 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 20–Apr 27 | 169 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 169 available after Apr 20. | — |
| Garlic | — | Sep 29 | 253 | overwinter: Plant Sep 29 to Oct 20; harvest the following summer. | Oct 20 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 30–May 25 | 204 | perennial: A perennial: plant Mar 30; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 6 | May 11–May 18 | 120 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 120 available after May 11. | Jun 11 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 20 | May 18–May 18 | 113 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 113 available after May 18. | — |
| Cauliflower | Mar 23 | Apr 27–May 11 | 162 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 162 available after Apr 27. | Jul 9 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 9 | Apr 20–Apr 20 | 169 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 20 and again by Jul 29; both mature before Oct 6. | Jul 29 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 9–Jun 1 | 225 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 9 and again by Aug 27; both mature before Oct 20. | Aug 27 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 9 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 197 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 197 available after Apr 6. | Jun 28 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 20 | May 18–May 25 | 113 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 113 available after May 18. | — |
| Eggplant | Mar 16 | May 18–May 25 | 106 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 106 available after May 18. | Jun 9 |
| Okra | Apr 6 | May 11–May 18 | 127 | two-plantings: Plant May 11 and again by Jul 8; both mature before Sep 15. | Jul 8 |
| Basil | Mar 30 | May 25–May 25 | 113 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 113 available after May 25. | Jul 3 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 6–Apr 27 | 183 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 3; both mature before Oct 6. | Aug 3 |
| Parsley | Feb 23 | May 11–May 18 | 148 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 148 available after May 11. | Jul 14 |
| Celery | Feb 23 | May 11–May 25 | 148 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 148 available after May 11. | May 25 |
| Scallions | Feb 23 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 197 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 20. | Aug 7 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 197 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 17; both mature before Oct 20. | Aug 17 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 23–Apr 6 | 211 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 23 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 20. | Aug 12 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 6 | Apr 27–May 4 | 162 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 27 and again by Aug 8; both mature before Oct 6. | Aug 8 |
| Collards | Feb 23 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 197 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 20. | Aug 7 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 20 | May 18–May 25 | 106 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 106 available after May 18. | May 25 |
| Chives | Feb 9 | May 11–May 18 | 162 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 162 available after May 11. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 9–Jun 1 | 211 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 9 and again by Jul 29; both mature before Oct 6. | Jul 29 |
| Oregano | Feb 23 | May 11–May 18 | 162 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 162 available after May 11. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 9 | May 11–May 18 | 148 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 148 available after May 11. | — |
| Sage | Mar 9 | May 11–May 18 | 162 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 162 available after May 11. | — |
| Thyme | Feb 23 | May 11–May 18 | 162 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 162 available after May 11. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 23 | Apr 20–May 4 | 169 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 20 and again by Aug 3; both mature before Oct 6. | Aug 3 |
| Cosmos | Apr 6 | May 4–May 18 | 134 | two-plantings: Plant May 4 and again by Jul 3; both mature before Sep 15. | Jul 3 |
| Lavender | Feb 9 | May 4–May 18 | 169 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 169 available after May 4. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 23 | May 4–May 11 | 134 | two-plantings: Plant May 4 and again by Jul 13; both mature before Sep 15. | Jul 13 |
| Melons | Apr 20 | May 18–May 25 | 106 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 106 available after May 18. | May 25 |
| Mint | — | May 4–May 18 | 169 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 169 available after May 4. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 6 | May 4–May 11 | 134 | two-plantings: Plant May 4 and again by Jul 8; both mature before Sep 15. | Jul 8 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 11–May 25 | 127 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 127 available after May 11. | Jun 28 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 20 | May 18–May 25 | 113 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 113 available after May 18. | May 27 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 4–May 18 | 134 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 134 available after May 4. | Jun 23 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 9 | May 11–May 18 | 113 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 113 available after May 11. | Jun 4 |
| Watermelon | Apr 20 | May 11–May 18 | 113 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 113 available after May 11. | May 30 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 20 | May 18–May 25 | 120 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 120 available after May 18. | Jul 8 |
| Zinnias | Apr 6 | May 4–May 18 | 134 | two-plantings: Plant May 4 and again by Jul 3; both mature before Sep 15. | Jul 3 |
Month by month in Lexington
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 9), Lavender (Feb 9), Onion (Feb 9), Rosemary (Feb 9), Celery (Feb 23), Collards (Feb 23), +5 more. |
| March | Start indoors: Broccoli (Mar 9), Brussel Sprouts (Mar 9), Cabbage (Mar 9), Lettuce (Mar 9), Sage (Mar 9), Swiss Chard (Mar 9), +8 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 9), Beets (Mar 9), Dill (Mar 9), Peas (Mar 9), Radish (Mar 9), Spinach (Mar 9), +1 more. Plant: Strawberry (Mar 30). |
| April | Start indoors: Bok Choy (Apr 6), Corn (Apr 6), Cosmos (Apr 6), Nasturtiums (Apr 6), Okra (Apr 6), Zinnias (Apr 6), +9 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 6), Turnip (Apr 6), Carrots (Apr 13), Potatoes (Apr 20). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 6), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 6), Cabbage (Apr 6), Collards (Apr 6), Kale (Apr 6), Lettuce (Apr 6), +6 more. |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 4), Beans (May 11), Pole Beans (May 11). Transplant from: Cosmos (May 4), Lavender (May 4), Marigolds (May 4), Mint (May 4), Nasturtiums (May 4), Zinnias (May 4), +23 more. Last frost around May 4. Last sowing dates: Cantaloupe (May 25), Celery (May 25), Melons (May 25), Spaghetti Squash (May 27), Tomato (May 30), Watermelon (May 30). |
| June | Last sowing dates: Pepper (Jun 4), Tomatillos (Jun 4), Eggplant (Jun 9), Corn (Jun 11), Sunflowers (Jun 23), Brussel Sprouts (Jun 28), +1 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Basil (Jul 3), Cosmos (Jul 3), Cucumber (Jul 3), Zinnias (Jul 3), Broccoli (Jul 4), Nasturtiums (Jul 8), +13 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Calendula (Aug 3), Cilantro (Aug 3), Collards (Aug 7), Scallions (Aug 7), Bok Choy (Aug 8), Lettuce (Aug 8), +6 more. |
| September | Direct sow from: Garlic (Sep 29). First frost around September 29. |
| October | Last sowing dates: Garlic (Oct 20). |
| November | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
| December | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last frost date for Lexington, NE (ZIP 68850)?
The median last spring frost date for Lexington, NE (ZIP code 68850) is around May 4. This is the 50th-percentile date — meaning half of all years see frost end before this date. Use the 10% and 90% dates to understand the full range of risk in your area. One year in ten frost ends before April 22; one in ten it runs past May 16.
What is the first fall frost date in Lexington, NE?
The median first fall frost date for Lexington, NE is around September 29. Plan to harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops like tomatoes and peppers at least a week before this date to avoid losses. The first frost arrives around September 15 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Lexington, NE?
The frost-free growing season in Lexington is about 148 days. This window — from your last spring frost to your first fall frost — is when warm-season vegetables thrive. Cold-hardy crops like kale, spinach, and peas can extend your season by weeks on either side. In Lexington (148 frost-free days, a moderate season), 34 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 21 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Lexington, NE?
Lexington, NE is in USDA hardiness zone 5b (2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map). Zones come from the average coldest winter temperature, so they tell you which perennials survive the winter; the frost dates on this page tell you when to plant.
When should I start tomatoes indoors in Lexington, NE?
Start tomatoes indoors Mar 30 and plant out May 18 in Lexington. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Lexington?
Two: plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 8; both mature before Oct 6.
When do I plant garlic in Lexington?
Sep 29 to Oct 20; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
Which nearby ZIP has a longer season?
Kearney (ZIP 68845) has 156 frost-free days, 8 more than Lexington (ZIP 68850). See Kearney ZIP 68845 frost dates
Nearby and related
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