When to Mulch Strawberries and Perennials for Winter in Nebraska
Wait for the ground to freeze, then mulch. In Omaha, the first fall frost lands between October 15 and October 26, but that marks the start of the wait…
Gardening in Nebraska
Everything we have worked out for Nebraska: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Omaha, the last spring freeze runs April 12 to April 23 and the first fall freeze runs October 15 to October 26, USDA zones 4a-5b, 3,740 growing degree days in the year.
Garlic does well: 26.1 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in Nebraska: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
When to Pull Carrots in Nebraska, and How to Keep Them
Pull carrots about 65 to 75 days after planting, according to Clemson Cooperative Extension.
When to Winterize Sprinklers and Outdoor Faucets in Nebraska
Nebraska gives you a deadline, not a calendar date. The deadline is the first hard freeze, and in the Omaha area that tends to show up in the second half…
Hedge Plants for Nebraska: What Holds, and What Only Looks Hardy
Nine of the twelve hedge plants we track hold across all of Nebraska, one holds in only part of it, and two are not hardy here at all.
What Do Homes in Nebraska Cool With?
95% of Nebraska homes run some form of air conditioning, and the overwhelming majority of that cooling comes from a central system built into the house…
Roof Snow Load, Wind Speed and Ice Barrier Rules in Nebraska
Explains Omaha’s design snow load, wind speed and ice barrier rules under Nebraska’s building code, and what each figure actually governs on a roof.
Finishing a Basement in Nebraska: Permits, Ceiling Height, Egress and Waterproofing
Nebraska’s basement rules for permits, ceiling height, egress windows and moisture control, with the figures that decide whether a finished room passes inspection.
What Eats Pepper in Nebraska, and When
The sourced climate and pepper-growing data available for Nebraska don’t name a single insect species tied to a documented feeding calendar in this state.
What Eats Carrot in Nebraska, and When
The honest answer is that the verified record behind this page does not hand over a named list of insects documented for carrots in Nebraska.
What Eats Potato in Nebraska, and When
Nebraska gardeners dealing with chewed potato leaves are usually looking at one of four insects documented by Nebraska Extension: blister beetles…