When to Plant in South Dakota: Vegetable & Flower Planting Calendar
Quick answer
Plant around your local last spring frost: across the 375 South Dakota ZIP codes where frost comes in most years, the median is May 6 and the median first fall frost is Oct 2 (nearest NOAA station, 1991–2020). Transplant tomatoes 1–2 weeks after your last frost: Zone 4 areas: May 14 – May 21; Zone 5 areas: May 10 – May 17.
South Dakota spans USDA hardiness zones 4a–5b on the 2023 USDA map (by ZIP code, via PRISM). For the 375 of its 375 ZIP codes where frost comes in most years, the nearest NOAA station’s median last spring frost (32°F, 1991–2020) is May 6 (middle 80% of ZIP codes: May 1 – May 14) and the median first fall frost is Oct 2 (Sep 28 – Oct 9). Use this guide to time seed-starting, transplanting and fall planting.
Where these dates come from: every date range is counted from the median (50% probability) 32°F last spring and first fall frost dates in NOAA’s 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals for the area shown. The rule under each date, such as “4–6 weeks before last frost,” shows how it was counted. These are averages: in about half of years a frost still comes after the spring date, and elevation, nearby water and microclimate can shift your yard by a week or more. For dates for your exact location, enter your ZIP code in the planner.
How we count planting dates: the weeks before or after frost for each crop come from university extension planting guides: UNH Extension, When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden; Rutgers FS787, Starting Vegetable Seeds Indoors; Virginia Tech 426-331, Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide; University of Maryland Extension, Vegetable Planting Calendar; and University of Idaho CIS 1209 (marigolds and zinnias). Bulb windows approximate Rutgers’ rule to plant when soil falls below 60°F (FS1220), and garlic follows SDSU, Illinois and Virginia Tech. Temperature notes: UMD (potatoes), UMN (sweet corn), UC ANR (peppers, hardening off), UMN (eggplant), Colorado State (tomatoes) and SDSU (hardening off).
South Dakota frost dates by zone area
| Zone areas | Most common nearest NOAA stations | Median last spring frost (32°F) | Median first fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 4 (205 ZIP codes) | Columbia 8 N, SD, Brookings 2 Ne, SD, Wentworth 2.5 Wnw, SD | May 7middle 80%: May 3 – May 14 | Oct 1middle 80%: Sep 27 – Oct 5 |
| Zone 5 (167 ZIP codes) | Sioux Falls Wfo Airport, SD, Centerville 6 Se, SD, Sioux Falls, SD | May 3middle 80%: Apr 27 – May 13 | Oct 4middle 80%: Sep 29 – Oct 11 |
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal freeze-date probabilities (32°F, 50% probability). Station-level medians; your yard may differ.
How this table is built: each South Dakota ZIP code is matched to its nearest NOAA 1991–2020 freeze-data station (within 60 miles) and grouped by its 2023 USDA hardiness zone; dates are medians across the ZIP codes in each group. Some nearest stations are across the state line (Gordon 6N, NE, Hawarden, IA, Niobrara, NE, Pretty Rock, ND, Sioux City Ang, IA, White Rock Dam, MN). For your own ZIP, use the planner.
South Dakota vegetable planting calendar
Planting dates for each zone area of South Dakota, counted from that area’s median frost dates (shown under each column). Rows run in calendar order. For your exact dates, enter your ZIP.
| Plant, task and rule | Zone 4 areasLast frost May 7 · First frost Oct 1 | Zone 5 areasLast frost May 3 · First frost Oct 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Broccoli · Start indoors8–10 weeks before last frost | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Feb 22 – Mar 8 |
| Cabbage · Start indoors8–10 weeks before last frost | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Feb 22 – Mar 8 |
| Kale · Start indoors8–10 weeks before last frost | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Feb 22 – Mar 8 |
| Tomatoes · Start indoors6–8 weeks before last frost | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | Mar 8 – Mar 22 |
| Peppers · Start indoors6–8 weeks before last frost | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | Mar 8 – Mar 22 |
| Eggplant · Start indoors6–8 weeks before last frost | Mar 12 – Mar 26 | Mar 8 – Mar 22 |
| Peas · Direct sow4–6 weeks before last frost | Mar 26 – Apr 9Harvest (est.) May 25 – Jun 28 | Mar 22 – Apr 5Harvest (est.) May 21 – Jun 24 |
| Spinach · Direct sow4–6 weeks before last frost | Mar 26 – Apr 9Harvest (est.) May 10 – Jun 8 | Mar 22 – Apr 5Harvest (est.) May 6 – Jun 4 |
| Basil · Start indoors4–6 weeks before last frost | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Radishes · Direct sow2–5 weeks before last frost | Apr 2 – Apr 23Harvest (est.) Apr 22 – May 23 | Mar 29 – Apr 19Harvest (est.) Apr 18 – May 19 |
| Lettuce · Direct sow2–4 weeks before last frost | Apr 9 – Apr 23Harvest (est.) Jun 8 – Jul 12 | Apr 5 – Apr 19Harvest (est.) Jun 4 – Jul 8 |
| Onions (sets/transplants) · Plant sets/transplants2–4 weeks before last frost | Apr 9 – Apr 23Harvest (est.) Jul 3 – Aug 21 | Apr 5 – Apr 19Harvest (est.) Jun 29 – Aug 17 |
| Broccoli · Transplant2–4 weeks before last frost | Apr 9 – Apr 23Harvest (est.) May 29 – Jul 2 | Apr 5 – Apr 19Harvest (est.) May 25 – Jun 28 |
| Cabbage · Transplant2–4 weeks before last frost | Apr 9 – Apr 23Harvest (est.) Jun 18 – Jul 22 | Apr 5 – Apr 19Harvest (est.) Jun 14 – Jul 18 |
| Kale · Transplant2–4 weeks before last frost | Apr 9 – Apr 23 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 |
| Marigolds · Start indoors0–3 weeks before last frost (3–4 weeks before setting out; Univ. of Idaho) | Apr 16 – May 7 | Apr 12 – May 3 |
| Zinnias · Start indoors0–3 weeks before last frost (3–4 weeks before setting out; Univ. of Idaho) | Apr 16 – May 7 | Apr 12 – May 3 |
| Potatoes · Plant seed potatoes1–2 weeks before last frost | Apr 23 – Apr 30Harvest (est.) Jul 17 – Aug 18 | Apr 19 – Apr 26Harvest (est.) Jul 13 – Aug 14 |
| Marigolds · Direct sow / transplantfrom the last frost to 2 weeks after (Univ. of Idaho) | May 7 – May 21 | May 3 – May 17 |
| Zinnias · Direct sow / transplantfrom the last frost to 2 weeks after (Univ. of Idaho) | May 7 – May 21 | May 3 – May 17 |
| Tomatoes · Transplant1–2 weeks after last frost | May 14 – May 21Harvest (est.) Jul 23 – Aug 19 | May 10 – May 17Harvest (est.) Jul 19 – Aug 15 |
| Beans (bush & pole) · Direct sow1–2 weeks after last frost | May 14 – May 21Harvest (est.) Jun 28 – Jul 30 | May 10 – May 17Harvest (est.) Jun 24 – Jul 26 |
| Sweet corn · Direct sow1–2 weeks after last frost | May 14 – May 21Harvest (est.) Jul 18 – Aug 19 | May 10 – May 17Harvest (est.) Jul 14 – Aug 15 |
| Cucumbers · Direct sow1–2 weeks after last frost | May 14 – May 21Harvest (est.) Jun 23 – Jul 25 | May 10 – May 17Harvest (est.) Jun 19 – Jul 21 |
| Squash · Direct sow1–2 weeks after last frost | May 14 – May 21Harvest (est.) Jun 23 – Jul 10 | May 10 – May 17Harvest (est.) Jun 19 – Jul 6 |
| Pumpkins · Direct sow1–3 weeks after last frost | May 14 – May 28Harvest (est.) Aug 2 – Sep 5 | May 10 – May 24Harvest (est.) Jul 29 – Sep 1 |
| Basil · Transplant1–2 weeks after last frost | May 14 – May 21Harvest (est.) Jun 25 – Jul 2 | May 10 – May 17Harvest (est.) Jun 21 – Jun 28 |
| Peppers · Transplant2–3 weeks after last frost | May 21 – May 28Harvest (est.) Jul 25 – Aug 11 | May 17 – May 24Harvest (est.) Jul 21 – Aug 7 |
| Eggplant · Transplant2–3 weeks after last frost | May 21 – May 28Harvest (est.) Jul 30 – Aug 26 | May 17 – May 24Harvest (est.) Jul 26 – Aug 22 |
| Broccoli · Fall transplant10–12 weeks before first fall frost | Jul 9 – Jul 23Harvest (est.) Aug 28 – Oct 1 | Jul 12 – Jul 26Harvest (est.) Aug 31 – Oct 4 |
| Cabbage · Fall transplant10–12 weeks before first fall frost | Jul 9 – Jul 23Harvest (est.) Sep 17 – Oct 21 | Jul 12 – Jul 26Harvest (est.) Sep 20 – Oct 24 |
| Kale · Fall sow8–10 weeks before first fall frost | Jul 23 – Aug 6Harvest (est.) Sep 11 – Oct 15 | Jul 26 – Aug 9Harvest (est.) Sep 14 – Oct 18 |
| Lettuce · Fall sow6–8 weeks before first fall frost | Aug 6 – Aug 20Harvest (est.) Oct 5 – Nov 8 | Aug 9 – Aug 23Harvest (est.) Oct 8 – Nov 11 |
| Spinach · Fall sow4–7 weeks before first fall frost (Virginia Tech) | Aug 13 – Sep 3Harvest (est.) Sep 27 – Nov 2 | Aug 16 – Sep 6Harvest (est.) Sep 30 – Nov 5 |
| Radishes · Fall sow4–6 weeks before first fall frost | Aug 20 – Sep 3Harvest (est.) Sep 9 – Oct 3 | Aug 23 – Sep 6Harvest (est.) Sep 12 – Oct 6 |
| Daffodils · Fall plant bulbs4 weeks before to 2 weeks after first fall frost (our approximation of when soil falls below 60°F; Rutgers) | Sep 3 – Oct 15 | Sep 6 – Oct 18 |
| Tulips · Fall plant bulbs2 weeks before to 4 weeks after first fall frost (our approximation of when soil falls below 60°F; Rutgers) | Sep 17 – Oct 29 | Sep 20 – Nov 1 |
| Garlic · Fall plant cloves2 weeks before to 3 weeks after first fall frost, while the soil is still workable (SDSU, Illinois, Virginia Tech) | Sep 17 – Oct 22Harvest (est.) May 25, 2027 – Jul 19, 2027 | Sep 20 – Oct 25Harvest (est.) May 28, 2027 – Jul 22, 2027 |
About the harvest estimates
Each expected harvest window adds the days to harvest from the sources below to the planting window. Days count from sowing seed (or planting seed potatoes, onion sets or garlic cloves) or, where marked, from setting transplants out; “Start indoors” rows have no harvest of their own. Harvest timing varies with variety and weather, and many crops keep producing for weeks after the first picking. For frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, basil) the window stops at the first fall frost: harvest may end early at the first fall frost. Flowers and bulbs show no harvest window, and kale has no sourced figure for spring transplants.
Sources: UF/IFAS Extension, Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (SP103/VH021), Table 1, “Days to Harvest”; University of Maryland Extension, Growing Onions in a Home Garden; University of Maryland Extension, Growing Garlic in a Home Garden; University of Maryland Extension, Growing Basil in a Home Garden.
Growing notes for each crop
- Peas: Tolerates light frost; sow when soil is workable
- Spinach: Fall crop too: sow 4–7 weeks before first fall frost (Virginia Tech)
- Lettuce: Bolts in heat; succession sow; fall crop too
- Radishes: Fast (3–4 weeks); sow again for fall (see Fall sow dates)
- Kale: Fall crop too (see Fall sow dates); frost sweetens leaves
- Onions (sets/transplants): Choose day-length type suited to your latitude
- Potatoes: Soil at least 45°F (UMD); hill as plants grow
- Broccoli: Cool-season; harden off; good fall crop
- Cabbage: Cool-season; harden off; good fall crop
- Tomatoes: Wait for nights reliably above about 52°F (Colorado State)
- Peppers: Need warm soil: about 65°F is optimal for transplanting (UC ANR)
- Eggplant: Transplant after nights stay above 50°F (UMN)
- Beans (bush & pole): Seeds rot in cold, wet soil
- Sweet corn: Soil 60°F+ (UNH, UMN); plant in blocks for pollination
- Cucumbers: Frost-tender; watch for cucumber beetles
- Squash: Frost-tender; watch for squash vine borer
- Pumpkins: For October pumpkins, many sow in late May–June
- Basil: Very cold-sensitive
- Marigolds: Easy warm-season annual
- Zinnias: Easy warm-season annual
- Tulips: Our frost-date window is an approximation of that soil rule. In zone 9, chill bulbs 12–16 weeks first (Clemson)
- Daffodils: Our frost-date window is an approximation of that soil rule; slightly earlier than tulips is fine
- Garlic: Harvest the following early summer
South Dakota USDA zone guides: Zone 4 planting guide Zone 5 planting guide
How we count planting dates: the weeks before or after frost for each crop come from university extension planting guides: UNH Extension, When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden; Rutgers FS787, Starting Vegetable Seeds Indoors; Virginia Tech 426-331, Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide; University of Maryland Extension, Vegetable Planting Calendar; and University of Idaho CIS 1209 (marigolds and zinnias). Bulb windows approximate Rutgers’ rule to plant when soil falls below 60°F (FS1220), and garlic follows SDSU, Illinois and Virginia Tech. Temperature notes: UMD (potatoes), UMN (sweet corn), UC ANR (peppers, hardening off), UMN (eggplant), Colorado State (tomatoes) and SDSU (hardening off).
Tips for South Dakota gardeners
- Watch soil temperature, not just the calendar — warm-season crops stall in cold soil. An inexpensive soil thermometer helps.
- Harden off transplants over 7–10 days before planting out (UC ANR, SDSU).
- Ask your local Cooperative Extension office about varieties and timing for your county; find it in the USDA NIFA land-grant university directory.
- Keep weeds down early — see our weed identification guide.
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in South Dakota?
Across the 375 South Dakota ZIP codes where frost comes in most years, the median last spring frost (32°F, NOAA 1991–2020) at the nearest station is May 6, and the middle 80% of ZIP codes range from May 1 to May 14. Check the average for your ZIP code, and remember frost can occur after the average date.
When can I plant tomatoes in South Dakota?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after your average last frost, once nights stay above about 52°F (Colorado State). Typical dates: Zone 4 areas: May 14 – May 21; Zone 5 areas: May 10 – May 17.
What USDA zone is South Dakota?
South Dakota spans roughly USDA hardiness zones 4a–5b on the 2023 USDA map (by ZIP code, via PRISM). Hardiness zones describe winter low temperatures, not frost dates.
Other state planting calendars
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