Frost dates for Ellsworth, NE
When the last spring frost and first fall frost usually come, and when to plant, from 30 years of NOAA weather records.
Last spring frost
May 14
typical year
Safe to plant
May 28
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
October 2
typical year
Growing season
140 days
frost-free, typical year
Frost watch this week
Tonight's and the next six nights' lows from the National Weather Service forecast for the station's location. Frost: 32°F or colder. Possible frost: 33–36°F, mostly in low spots on clear, still nights.
When to plant
Counted from this page's frost dates. Warm-season crops wait for the safe-to-plant date.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool-season crops | |||
| Peas | – | Apr 16 – 30 | – |
| Spinach | – | Apr 2 – 23 | Aug 7 – 21 |
| Lettuce | – | Apr 16 – May 7 | Aug 7 – 21 |
| Radishes | – | Apr 16 – May 28 | Aug 21 – Sep 4 |
| Onions | – | Apr 16 – 30 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Apr 23 – May 7 | – |
| Carrots | – | Apr 23 – May 14 | Jul 10 – 24 |
| Beets | – | Apr 16 – 30 | Jul 24 – Aug 7 |
| Kale | Mar 5 – 19 | Apr 16 – 30 | Jul 24 – Aug 7 |
| Broccoli | Mar 5 – 19 | Apr 30 – May 14 | Jul 24 – Aug 7 |
| Cabbage | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Apr 16 – 30 | Jul 24 – Aug 7 |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 21 – Sep 11 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Apr 2 – 16 | May 28 – Jun 11 | – |
| Peppers | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | Jun 4 – 18 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | May 28 – Jun 18 | – |
| Zucchini | – | May 28 – Jun 25 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | May 28 – Jun 18 | – |
| Green beans | – | May 28 – Jul 24 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 28 – Jun 25 | – |
| Basil | Apr 23 – May 7 | Jun 4 – 11 | – |
Onions: from sets. Green beans: until 10 weeks before the first fall frost. Garlic: harvest next summer.
The year at a glance
Start indoors Plant outside Fall planting
The chance of frost, by date
| 1 year in 10 | Half of years | 9 years in 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring frost after | May 28 | May 14 | May 3 |
| Fall frost before | September 18 | October 2 | October 13 |
Frost here means 32°F or colder. Read across: in 1 year in 10, spring frost carries on past the first date, which is why that date is the safe-to-plant date.
Hard freeze (28°F)
A hard freeze kills most garden plants, even hardy ones. The last one in spring usually comes around May 5 (May 16 in a late year), and the first one in fall around October 11.
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station ELLSWORTH 2W, NE US (USC00252645), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 3 zip codes, all within 18 miles:
69333, 69335, 69351
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.