Seed Starting Calendar for Nebraska

Q: When is the last frost in Nebraska?

It depends on the station. The earliest median last spring freeze in Nebraska is April 15 at Valley NWS; the latest is May 27 at Harrison 20 SSE. A median is a coin flip: at Scottsbluff the last 32°F freeze comes after May 5 in half of years, and has passed by May 18 in 9 of 10 years (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals).

Q: When can I plant tomatoes outside in Nebraska?

UNH Extension sets tomatoes out 1 to 2 weeks after the last frost, which at Scottsbluff is May 12 to May 19 in 2027. Tomatoes are frost tender, so the date to watch is May 18, when 9 of 10 springs at Scottsbluff have had their last 32°F night. Hardening off starts two weeks before setting out (Apr 28 to May 12).

Q: What does Nebraska Extension (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) say about planting dates in Nebraska?

Nebraska Extension (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)'s Growing Tomatoes in the Home Garden puts it this way: "When growing your own transplants, sow the tomato seeds four to six weeks before transplanting outdoors." The guide is linked below with the date it was read (September 21, 2026).

Q: How many weeks before the last frost do I start peppers and eggplant?

UNH Extension gives 8 to 10 weeks from seed to transplant for both, and sets peppers out 2 weeks after the last frost and eggplant 2 to 3 weeks after, so the sowing date is 6 to 8 weeks before the median last frost. At Scottsbluff that is Mar 10 to Mar 24 for peppers.

Q: How long do seedlings need to harden off?

About two weeks. University of Missouri Extension: "Hardening should be started about two weeks before planting in the garden." University of Minnesota Extension adds that seedlings should go out on a cloudy day or in the late afternoon.

Median last frost from Apr 20 to May 15 across Nebraska

NOAA stations

179

Median last frost, Scottsbluff

May 5

Passed in 9 of 10 years

May 18

Last frost

Last spring frost dates in Nebraska

Omaha on the Missouri reaches its median last frost around Apr 18, Grand Island around Apr 23, Scottsbluff around May 5, and North Platte and Valentine in the Sandhills around May 11 to May 12.

Three dates per station from the NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals. The median is the date half of springs run past. The last column is the date the last 32°F night has passed by in 9 years out of 10, the one to hold tender transplants for.

Station	Elevation	Early (1 in 10 years later than this)	Median last frost	Passed in 9 of 10 years	Median first fall frost
OmahaOmaha Eppley Airfield, USW00014942	982 ft	Apr 5	Apr 18	Apr 30	Oct 21
Grand Island AirportGrand Island Airport, USW00014935	1,840 ft	Apr 9	Apr 23	May 6	Oct 15
ScottsbluffScottsbluff Heilig Airport, USW00024028	3,945 ft	Apr 25	May 5	May 18	Oct 4
North PlatteNorth Platte Regional Airport, USW00024023	2,778 ft	Apr 30	May 11	May 26	Oct 1
Valentine Miller FieldValentine Miller Field, USW00024032	2,590 ft	Apr 30	May 12	May 25	Sep 29

Crop chart

When to start seeds in Nebraska, spring 2027

Counted back from the median last frost at Scottsbluff, May 5. Pick another station to redraw the chart for it.

Start indoorsHarden offSet outSow outdoorsMedian last frostLast freeze passed in 9 of 10 years

Every crop, counted from a median last frost of May 5
Crop	Start indoors	Set out	Sow outdoors	Frost class
Tomato	Mar 17 to Mar 31	May 12 to May 19		Tender, very tender
Pepper	Mar 10 to Mar 24	May 19 to May 26		Tender, very tender
Eggplant	Mar 10 to Mar 24	May 19 to May 26		Tender, very tender
Basil	Mar 24 to Apr 7	May 19 to May 26		Tender
Celery	Feb 10 to Feb 24	May 5 to May 12		Tender
Cucumber	Apr 14 to Apr 21	May 12 to May 19	May 5 to May 12	Tender
Summer squash	Apr 21 to Apr 28	May 19 to May 26	May 5 to May 12	Tender
Winter squash	Apr 21 to Apr 28	May 19 to May 26	May 19 to May 26	Tender, very tender
Pumpkin	Apr 21 to Apr 28	May 19 to May 26	May 19 to May 26	Tender, very tender
Melon (cantaloupe)	Apr 21 to Apr 28	May 19 to May 26		Tender, very tender
Watermelon	Apr 14 to Apr 28	May 19 to May 26		Tender, very tender
Onion (from seed)	Jan 27 to Feb 10	Apr 7 to Apr 14		Hardy
Leek	Jan 27 to Feb 10	Apr 7 to Apr 14		Hardy
Parsley	Feb 3 to Feb 10	Apr 14 to Apr 21		Half-hardy
Broccoli	Feb 24 to Mar 10	Apr 7 to Apr 21		Hardy
Brussels sprouts	Feb 24 to Mar 10	Apr 7 to Apr 21		Hardy
Cabbage	Feb 24 to Mar 10	Apr 7 to Apr 14		Hardy
Cauliflower	Mar 10 to Mar 24	Apr 21 to Apr 28		Half-hardy
Kale	Feb 24 to Mar 10	Apr 7 to Apr 14		Hardy
Lettuce	Mar 3 to Mar 10	Apr 7 to Apr 14		Hardy
Swiss chard	Mar 10 to Mar 24	Apr 21 to Apr 28	Apr 7 to Apr 14	Half-hardy
Spinach	Feb 10 to Feb 24	Mar 24 to Apr 14	Apr 7 to Apr 21	Hardy
Peas			Apr 7 to Apr 21	Hardy
Radish			Apr 7 to Apr 21	Hardy
Carrot			Apr 21 to May 5	Half-hardy
Beet			Apr 21 to May 5	Half-hardy
Beans			May 5 to May 12	Tender
Sweet corn			May 5 to May 12	Tender

Six square pots of dark compost seen from above, each holding a single seedling with two narrow seed leaves — Tomato seedlings at the seed leaf stage, one to a pot. The University of Minnesota Extension holds off on fertilizer until a seedling has several sets of true leaves, then feeds at quarter strength once a week. “Tomato Seedlings (49768696597)” by Amanda Slater from Coventry, West Midlands, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0

Extension guide

What University of Nebraska-Lincoln advises

Nebraska Extension (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) publishes the planting guide Nebraska gardeners work from, Growing Tomatoes in the Home Garden (G1650).

“When growing your own transplants, sow the tomato seeds four to six weeks before transplanting outdoors.”

Nebraska Extension (University of Nebraska-Lincoln), Growing Tomatoes in the Home Garden, quoted exactly.

“When growing your own transplants, sow the tomato seeds four to six weeks before transplanting outdoors.”

Nebraska Extension (University of Nebraska-Lincoln), on tomato, quoted exactly.

“When growing your own pepper transplants, sow the seeds six to eight weeks before the plants are to be set in the garden.”

Nebraska Extension (University of Nebraska-Lincoln), on pepper, quoted exactly.

A gardener kneeling beside a raised bed setting a young tomato plant into dark soil, an empty nursery pot beside her — Setting out a tomato in June at a community garden. Tender crops go out after the last frost, and after a week or two of hardening off outdoors. “Volunteer planting heirloom tomato (4704185147)”, Pacific Southwest Region 5, Public domain

Seed starting questions for Nebraska

When should I start seeds indoors in Nebraska?

Count back from the median last frost where you garden. At Scottsbluff (Scottsbluff Heilig Airport) that date is May 5, so for spring 2027 onions start indoors Jan 27 to Feb 10, peppers Mar 10 to Mar 24 and tomatoes Mar 17 to Mar 31. Across Nebraska's 179 NOAA stations the median last frost runs from Apr 20 to May 15 for the middle 90 percent, so a garden near Harrison 20 SSE starts later than one near Valley NWS.

When is the last frost in Nebraska?

When can I plant tomatoes outside in Nebraska?

What does Nebraska Extension (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) say about planting dates in Nebraska?

How many weeks before the last frost do I start peppers and eggplant?

How long do seedlings need to harden off?

Why do seed starting dates differ across Nebraska?

Frost dates from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, annual/seasonal, by station (v1.0.1). Planting guidance from Nebraska Extension (University of Nebraska-Lincoln), quoted exactly. Seed starting weeks from UNH Cooperative Extension. Compiled 2026-09-21.

First frost in NebraskaThe other end of the season: when fall frost ends the tender crops.Soil temperatureBeans, corn and squash sown direct wait on warm soil as well as the last frost.Nebraska lawn care calendarSpring seeding, feeding and mowing dates on the same climate.Fall planting calendarGarlic, cool season crops and a second sowing window in the fall.Frost dates by ZIPFirst and last frost odds for any address.

Seed Starting Calendar for Nebraska

Last spring frost dates in Nebraska

When to start seeds in Nebraska, spring 2027

What University of Nebraska-Lincoln advises

Seed starting questions for Nebraska

Other states