When to plant asparagus in Omaha, Nebraska

March 7 – March 21

Transplant outdoors · typical Omaha year

Climate basis: NOAA station Omaha Eppley Airfield, NE (USW00014942), 4 mi (6 km) from downtown Omaha (ZCTA 68102 centroid), elevation 982 ft, on the 1991–2020 climate normals. Plant asparagus crowns from approximately the dates above, anchored to the median last spring 32°F freeze (April 18). One year in ten still freezes after April 30.

Last spring freezeApril 181-in-10 after Apr 30
First fall freezeOctober 211-in-10 before Oct 6
Frost-free season185 daysmedian at 32°F
Hard freeze, 28°Apr 8Oct 30kills even hardy greens
USDA zone6a-10 to -5°F winter low not frost timing

The Omaha year

Transplant outdoorsMar 7 – Mar 21
  • indoors under lights
  • in the garden
  • frost-free season
  • 1-in-10 years still freeze to Apr 30
Asparagus in Omaha · freeze context from Omaha Eppley Airfield, NE, 1991–2020 normals.

Every method, with its sources

Transplant outdoors

Mar 7 – Mar 21

Purdue: hardy — plant crowns 4–6 weeks before the last spring frost. Anchored to the median last spring freeze (Apr 18). Purdue University Extension

Start seeds indoors

Not calculated

The cited extension guides do not time an indoor seed-starting window for this crop.

Direct-sow outdoors

Not calculated

Home plantings start from 1-year crowns; seed-started asparagus adds a year and is not timed by the cited guide.

Fall planting

Not calculated

No source-backed fall planting rule exists for this crop in the registry, so no fall window is calculated.

Variety assumption: A long-lived perennial; do not harvest the planting year, lightly the second year, fully from the third.

These windows describe typical years (1991–2020 climate normals), not this year's forecast. Freezes happen outside them — especially in frost pockets, valleys, and urban edges. Watch the forecast before committing tender plants.

This week, not a typical year:
Crop rule sources (1)

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