Stella, NE 68442 Frost Dates
When can you plant in Stella, NE?
The last spring frost here typically falls around 04/24, about 239 days from today. The first fall frost typically arrives around 10/10, about 167 frost-free days later.
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts Stella in Zone 6a (-10 to -5°F average annual minimum); frost dates are NOAA's 1991-2020 station normal, not this year's forecast.
What to do before the first frost
About 6 weeks of growing season left in Stella before the first fall frost — a cold frame or row cover can stretch harvest weeks past that date.
How much risk comes with planting early here
04/24 is the middle of 30 years of NOAA records, not a promise. Plant by 04/10 and you're betting against frost in roughly 9 years out of 10. 05/06 is the safer bet, historically only a 1-in-10 chance of frost that late.
How Stella compares
Stella's growing season runs about 167 days, ranking 30,224 of 40,283 US ZIP codes measured here, longest to shortest. Within NE, it ranks 282 of 605.
Learn more
zone vs. frost date covers why Zone 6a and Stella's frost date answer different questions. the frost range covers how to read the range around Stella's dates instead of trusting one.