Grand Island, Nebraska planting calendar and frost dates
Grand Island is in USDA hardiness zone 5b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 23 and the first fall frost around October 15, giving about 174 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 5b
- Typical last frost
- April 23
- Typical first frost
- October 15
- Frost-free season
- 174 days
Frost dates in Grand Island
Last spring frost
- April 9Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 23Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 6Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- September 29Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 15Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- October 27Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 174 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around April 12 and returns around October 23.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Grand Island Airport, 1.1 miles NW of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Grand Island
January
Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Grand Island
All 2 of Grand Island's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Grand Island Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 5b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Grand Island
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 17 to 31 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 12 to 26 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Apr 16 to 30 | Jul 16 to Aug 20 |
| Cilantro | Mar 12 to 26 | Apr 23 to 30 | — |
| Basil | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | May 12 to 19 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 13 to 20 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 12 to 26 | Oct 15 to 29 |
| Onions | Jan 1 to Feb 12 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 14 to 28 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 14 to 28 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 24 to Mar 24 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 2 to 23 | Jul 23 to Aug 13 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 24 to 31 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 7 to 21 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 14 to 28 | May 12 to 26 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 5 to 26 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Jul 30 to Aug 27 |
| Peas | — | Mar 12 to 26 | Jul 23 to Aug 6 |
| Spinach | Mar 12 to 19 | Apr 16 to 30 | Aug 6 to Sep 10 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 23 to May 14 | — |
| Zinnias | May 9 to 16 | Jun 6 to 20 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 3 to Oct 29 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 3 to Oct 15 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 12 to 26 | Sep 3 to 17 |
Nearby cities
- Lincoln, NE zone 6a, last frost Apr 24
- Omaha, NE zone 6a, last frost Apr 18
- Bellevue, NE zone 5b, last frost Apr 18
- Council Bluffs, IA zone 5b, last frost Apr 18
- Sioux City, IA zone 5a, last frost Apr 29
- Manhattan, KS zone 6a, last frost Apr 19
Planting in NebraskaAbout zone 5bPrintable calendar for Grand Island
Questions
When is the last frost in Grand Island?
Around April 23 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Grand Island Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 6.
What planting zone is Grand Island in?
USDA hardiness zone 5b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Grand Island?
Start seeds indoors March 17 to 31 and set plants out May 12 to 26.
When is the first frost in Grand Island?
Around October 15 in a typical year, and before September 29 about 1 year in 10.