Frost dates for 68736Fordyce, NE
The average last spring frost in Fordyce is April 30 and the average first fall frost is October 8, giving a typical growing season of about 160 days. Dates are based on NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals.
- Average last spring frost
- Apr 30
- Average first fall frost
- Oct 8
- Growing season
- 160 days
Safer after May 13 (1-in-10 risk)
Possible by Sep 26 (1-in-10 risk)
Last frost typically in 185 days
Frost risk by date
NOAA reports frost dates as probabilities. The middle date is the average (a 50% chance). For spring, the 10% date is a safer planting date: frost after it happens in about 1 year in 10. Light frost (36°F) can damage tender plants; a hard freeze (28°F) kills most annuals.
| Temperature | Last spring: 90% / 50% / 10% chance | First fall: 10% / 50% / 90% chance | Growing season (50%) | Years with at least one |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light frost (36°F) | Apr 28 · May 9 · May 22 | Sep 17 · Sep 30 · Oct 11 | 143 days | 100% |
| Frost / freeze (32°F) | Apr 16 · Apr 30 · May 13 | Sep 26 · Oct 8 · Oct 21 | 160 days | 100% |
| Hard freeze (28°F) | Apr 6 · Apr 20 · May 5 | Oct 3 · Oct 18 · Oct 30 | 178 days | 100% |
Planting calendar for Fordyce
Planting windows from the University of Maryland Extension calendar, shifted to your average frost dates. Use them as a starting point and adjust for seed packet instructions and local conditions.
| Crop | Task | Window |
|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors | Mar 30 – Jun 5 |
| Tomatoes | Transplant outdoors | May 16 – Jun 18 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors | Mar 30 – Apr 30 |
| Peppers | Transplant outdoors | May 30 – Jun 30 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors | Apr 16 – May 15 |
| Eggplant | Transplant outdoors | May 30 – Jun 30 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors | May 30 – Jun 28 |
| Summer squash | Sow outdoors | May 16 – Jun 30 |
| Winter squash & pumpkins | Sow outdoors | May 30 – Jun 30 |
| Snap beans | Sow outdoors | May 16 – Jul 21 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors | May 16 – Jun 18 |
| Watermelon & cantaloupe | Sow outdoors | May 30 – Jun 30 |
| Okra | Sow outdoors | May 23 – Jun 15 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 30 – May 15 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors (spring) | Mar 30 – May 30 |
| Onions | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Feb 16 – Mar 15 |
| Onions | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Apr 16 – May 15 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Mar 12 – Apr 15 |
| Broccoli | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Apr 16 – May 15 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors (fall) | Jun 8 – Jun 18 |
| Broccoli | Transplant outdoors (fall) | Jul 8 – Jul 19 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Mar 2 – Mar 30 |
| Cabbage | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Mar 30 – Apr 30 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors (fall) | May 29 – Jun 28 |
| Cabbage | Transplant outdoors (fall) | Jun 28 – Jul 29 |
| Leaf lettuce | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 30 – Jun 15 |
| Leaf lettuce | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jun 28 – Aug 14 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 23 – May 6 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jul 15 – Aug 19 |
| Radishes | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 30 – May 20 |
| Radishes | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jun 28 – Aug 29 |
| Kale | Sow outdoors (spring) | Apr 16 – May 6 |
| Kale | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jun 21 – Jul 29 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors (spring) | Apr 30 – Jun 15 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors (fall) | May 29 – Jul 14 |
| Garlic | Plant outdoors (fall) | Sep 28 – Oct 29 |
Where these dates come from
ZIP code 68736 is matched to the NOAA station Crofton, NE, 11.5 km away, at 1,400 ft elevation (73 ft lower than the ZIP code's center). Nearby stations for comparison:
| Station | Elevation | Avg last frost | Avg first frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crofton, NE (used) | 1,400 ft | Apr 30 | Oct 8 |
| Hartington, NE | 1,408 ft | Apr 30 | Oct 5 |
| Yankton 2 E, SD | 1,180 ft | Apr 27 | Oct 11 |
| Vermillion 2 Se, SD | 1,137 ft | May 3 | Oct 3 |
Frost dates near Fordyce
- Saint Helena, NE 68774 · last Apr 30, first Oct 8
- Hartington, NE 68739 · last Apr 30, first Oct 5
- Crofton, NE 68730 · last Apr 30, first Oct 8
- Wynot, NE 68792 · last Apr 27, first Oct 11
- Yankton, SD 57078 · last Apr 27, first Oct 11
- Gayville, SD 57031 · last Apr 27, first Oct 11
- Coleridge, NE 68727 · last Apr 30, first Oct 5
- Mission Hill, SD 57046 · last Apr 27, first Oct 11
Frequently asked questions
- When is the last frost in Fordyce, NE?
- For ZIP code 68736, the average last spring frost (32°F) is April 30, based on NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for the Crofton, NE weather station. There is a 1-in-10 chance of a frost after May 13.
- When is the first frost in Fordyce, NE?
- The average first fall frost (32°F) is October 8. There is a 1-in-10 chance of frost by September 26, so tender plants are at risk from that point on.
- How long is the growing season in 68736?
- In half of years, the frost-free season (between the last and first 32°F frost) is at least 160 days long.
- Are these frost dates a forecast?
- No. They are 30-year averages and probabilities from NOAA weather station records. Use them to plan, then watch your local forecast before planting tender crops or leaving them uncovered.