When to plant in South Dakota
Most of South Dakota sees its last spring frost between May 1 and May 13, and its first fall frost between Sep 28 and Oct 9. The middle of the state is around May 6 and October 2: that's what the dates below use.
Hardiness zones in South Dakota: 4a (6%), 4b (48%), 5a (44%).
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest | Plant for fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 1 | May 20 – Jun 3 | Jul 29 – Oct 2 | — |
| Pepper | Mar 18 | May 20 – Jun 3 | Aug 3 – Oct 2 | — |
| Cucumber | — | May 20 – Jun 3 | Jul 14 – Sep 1 | — |
| Zucchini / Summer squash | — | May 20 – Jun 3 | Jul 9 – Sep 17 | — |
| Winter squash | — | May 20 – Jun 3 | Aug 23 – Sep 27 | — |
| Green beans (bush) | — | May 20 – Jun 3 | Jul 14 – Aug 25 | — |
| Peas | — | Mar 25 – Apr 8 | May 24 – Jun 28 | Jul 13 – Jul 27 |
| Sweet corn | — | May 20 – Jun 3 | Aug 3 – Aug 31 | — |
| Lettuce | — | Apr 8 – Apr 22 | May 23 – Jul 4 | Aug 4 – Aug 18 |
| Spinach | — | Mar 25 – Apr 8 | May 4 – Jun 15 | Aug 23 – Sep 6 |
| Kale | Feb 25 | Apr 8 – Apr 22 | Jun 2 – Aug 25 | Aug 22 – Sep 5 |
| Broccoli | Mar 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Jun 14 – Jul 19 | Jul 27 – Aug 10 |
| Cabbage | Feb 25 | Apr 8 – Apr 22 | Jun 17 – Jul 22 | Jul 24 – Aug 7 |
| Carrot | — | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Jun 24 – Aug 5 | Jul 24 – Aug 7 |
| Beet | — | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Jun 9 – Jul 21 | Aug 1 – Aug 15 |
| Radish | — | Apr 1 – Apr 15 | Apr 26 – May 24 | Aug 24 – Sep 7 |
| Onion (sets) | — | Apr 1 – Apr 15 | Jul 10 – Aug 14 | — |
| Garlic | — | Sep 25 – Oct 16 (fall) | Jul 1 – Jul 22 next year | — |
| Potato | — | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Jul 14 – Aug 18 | — |
| Sweet potato | Apr 15 | May 27 – Jun 10 | Sep 4 – Oct 2 | — |
| Watermelon | — | May 27 – Jun 10 | Aug 20 – Sep 24 | — |
| Basil | Apr 8 | May 20 – Jun 3 | Jun 19 – Sep 25 | — |
| Strawberry (June-bearing) | — | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | Jun 3 – Jul 1 (once established) | — |
| Sunflower | — | May 20 – Jun 3 | Aug 8 – Sep 12 | — |
Dates for a typical spot in South Dakota. Colder and higher places plant later, warmer ones earlier: enter your ZIP code for yours, or see the calendar for your zone.
Frost dates around South Dakota
| Place | Zone | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | 5a | Apr 26 | Oct 13 |
| Rapid City | 5b | May 12 | Oct 5 |
| Aberdeen | 4a | May 8 | Sep 29 |
| Brookings | 4b | May 6 | Oct 1 |
| Chamberlain | 5a | May 3 | Oct 7 |
| Huron | 4b | May 6 | Oct 2 |
| Agar | 4b | May 8 | Oct 2 |
| Akaska | 4b | May 8 | Oct 1 |
| Alcester | 5a | May 1 | Oct 4 |
| Alexandria | 5a | May 8 | Sep 29 |
Average dates from the nearest NOAA weather stations (1991–2020). Click a place for its full planting calendar.