USDA zone 5a in South Dakota
USDA plant hardiness zone 5a covers 57 locations across South Dakota (average annual extreme minimum −20 to −15 °F): Allen, SD, Armour, SD, Ashland Heights, SD, Beresford, SD, Blucksberg Mountain, SD, Bonesteel, SD, and 51 more. Average last spring frost across this group ranges April 27 (Yankton) to May 28 (Johnson Siding), and growing seasons run 112–165 days (Johnson Siding to Marty) — even within one state, because hardiness sets winter survival, not planting dates. The table below gives every South Dakota location's own frost dates; the printable planting calendar uses Sturgis, this group's median-season location.
- USDA zone
- 5a−20 to −15 °F
- Last frost range
- Apr 27–May 28avg, 32°F
- First frost range
- Sep 18–Oct 13avg, 32°F
- Growing season range
- 112–165days
Locations in this group
Every location below shares this zone and a nearby weather station, but keeps its own frost dates — find your town for its own numbers, or use the ZIP planner on the home page for an instant personalized answer.
| Location | Also covers | Nearest station | Last frost | First frost | Season (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allen | Martin | Martin | May 13 | Oct 2 | 141 |
| Armour | — | Armour | May 3 | Oct 6 | 157 |
| Ashland Heights | Hermosa, Caputa | Rapid City Rgnl Ap | May 12 | Oct 1 | 139 |
| Beresford | Centerville, Hurley, Viborg, Davis, Wakonda | Centerville 6 Se | May 2 | Oct 1 | 151 |
| Blucksberg Mountain | — | Hereford 12 Sw | May 8 | Oct 3 | 147 |
| Bonesteel | — | Bonesteel | May 3 | Oct 10 | 159 |
| Canova | — | Howard | May 5 | Oct 2 | 149 |
| Chamberlain | Oacoma, Reliance, Pukwana | Chamberlain 5 S | May 3 | Oct 7 | 156 |
| Colome | New Witten | Winner | May 1 | Oct 9 | 159 |
| Custer | — | Custer Co Ap | May 23 | Sep 24 | 122 |
| Elk Point | Ponca, Newcastle, Burbank, Meckling, Wynot, Maskell, +1 more | Vermillion 2 Se | May 3 | Oct 3 | 153 |
| Fairburn | — | Wind Cave | May 15 | Sep 29 | 133 |
| Fedora | Woonsocket, Letcher | Forestburg 4 Nne | May 9 | Sep 28 | 140 |
| Freeman | Menno, Lesterville, Olivet | Menno | May 1 | Oct 4 | 156 |
| Garretson | — | Sioux Falls 14 Nne | May 1 | Oct 4 | 155 |
| Gregory | Burke, Herrick, Dallas | Gregory | May 6 | Oct 3 | 149 |
| Hamill | Ideal, New Witten | Winner Wiley Fld | May 1 | Oct 10 | 162 |
| Harrisburg | Canton, Lennox, Inwood, Larchwood, Worthing, Fairview | Canton | May 2 | Oct 2 | 151 |
| Hot Springs | — | Hot Springs | May 16 | Sep 27 | 133 |
| Interior | — | Interior 3 Ne | May 5 | Oct 7 | 152 |
| Johnson Siding | Piedmont | Pactola Dam | May 28 | Sep 18 | 112 |
| Kadoka | Wanblee, Norris | Longvalley | May 9 | Oct 1 | 143 |
| Kennebec | Presho | Kennebec | May 12 | Sep 28 | 137 |
| Keystone | — | Mt Rushmore Nmem | May 15 | Oct 1 | 138 |
| Kimball | Corsica, Plankinton, White Lake, Stickney, New Holland | White Lake | May 3 | Oct 5 | 153 |
| Kyle | — | Kyle 2 E | May 11 | Oct 1 | 139 |
| Lead | — | Lead | May 18 | Sep 29 | 133 |
| Manderson-White Horse Creek | — | Manderson 3 Ne | May 9 | Oct 4 | 147 |
| Manderson-White Horse Creek | — | Porcupine 11 N | May 17 | Sep 25 | 130 |
| Marty | Lake Andes, Geddes, Fairfax, Gross | Pickstown | Apr 30 | Oct 13 | 165 |
| Mitchell | Mount Vernon | Mitchell Muni Ap | Apr 30 | Oct 5 | 159 |
| Montrose | — | Montrose 8n | May 3 | Oct 4 | 153 |
| New Underwood | — | Elm Springs 3 Ese | May 8 | Oct 3 | 146 |
| Norris | Belvidere, White River | Cedar Butte | May 6 | Oct 4 | 151 |
| North Spearfish | — | Spearfish | May 12 | Oct 2 | 143 |
| Oglala | — | Oglala 1s | May 7 | Oct 4 | 149 |
| Okaton | Draper, Murdo | Murdo | May 3 | Oct 9 | 158 |
| Okreek | Wood | Wood | May 10 | Oct 1 | 143 |
| Parkston | Fulton, Alexandria, Spencer, Ethan, Dimock | Alexandria | May 8 | Sep 29 | 143 |
| Philip | — | Philip Ap | May 11 | Sep 30 | 141 |
| Pine Ridge | Wounded Knee, White Clay | Pine Ridge Ap | May 16 | Sep 27 | 132 |
| Platte | — | Academy 2ne | Apr 30 | Oct 8 | 159 |
| Quinn | — | Cottonwood 2 E | May 16 | Sep 26 | 132 |
| Salem | Parker, Bridgewater, Marion, Canistota, Emery, Monroe | Bridgewater | Apr 30 | Oct 7 | 161 |
| Sioux Falls | Brandon, Tea, Hartford, Crooks, Renner Corner, Valley Springs, +3 more | Sioux Falls | May 1 | Oct 6 | 157 |
| Smithwick | Oelrichs | Oelrichs | May 15 | Sep 30 | 137 |
| Smithwick | Oral | Oral | May 15 | Sep 27 | 133 |
| Spring Creek | Parmelee, Cody | Harrington | May 11 | Oct 1 | 143 |
| Sturgis * | Whitewood | Ft Meade | May 8 | Oct 3 | 147 |
| Summerset | Wonderland Homes | Rapid City 4nw | May 10 | Oct 5 | 147 |
| Two Strike | Mission | Mission | May 9 | Oct 1 | 146 |
| Tyndall | Springfield, Scotland, Kaylor, Avon, Tripp, Tabor | Tyndall | May 1 | Oct 7 | 158 |
| Vivian | — | Presho 7 Nw | May 12 | Sep 29 | 140 |
| Wagner | Delmont, Dante | Wagner | Apr 29 | Oct 9 | 164 |
| Wall | Wasta | Wasta | May 10 | Oct 1 | 141 |
| Wessington Springs | Lane | Wessington Springs | May 2 | Oct 8 | 157 |
| Yankton | St. Helena, Mission Hill, Irene, Gayville, Volin, Jamesville Colony | Yankton 2 E | Apr 27 | Oct 11 | 164 |
* Sturgis is this group's median-season location — the calendar below is computed from its data.
Data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (public domain) and USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Planting windows synthesized from U.S. Cooperative Extension guides.
Planting calendar (Sturgis, representative)
Computed from Sturgis's average frost dates — the median-season location in this South Dakotazone 5a group. hatched = start seeds indoors, solid green = plant out, teal = a fall sowing, and the terracotta dot marks the estimated first harvest. Ranges are extension-guide planning guidance, not guarantees — your own location's dates may run a week or two earlier or later (see the table above).
- Start indoors
- Plant out
- Fall sowing
- First harvest
| Crop | Frost tolerance | Start indoors | Plant out | First harvest | Fall planting | Season fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Tender | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | May 15 – May 22 | Jul 14 – Aug 3 | — | matures comfortably |
| Pepper | Very tender | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | May 22 – May 29 | Jul 21 – Aug 20 | — | matures comfortably |
| Cucumber | Tender | Apr 10 – Apr 17 | May 15 – May 22 | Jul 4 – Jul 24 | — | matures comfortably |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Tender | — | May 15 – May 22 | Jun 29 – Jul 14 | — | matures comfortably |
| Bush bean | Tender | — | May 15 – May 22 | Jul 4 – Jul 14 | Aug 4 – Aug 14 | matures comfortably |
| Sweet corn | Tender | — | May 8 – May 22 | Jul 7 – Aug 6 | — | matures comfortably |
| Basil | Very tender | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | May 15 – May 22 | Jun 14 – Jun 29 | — | matures comfortably |
| Lettuce | Half-hardy | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 | May 25 – Jun 9 | Jul 21 – Aug 5 | matures comfortably |
| Pea | Hardy | — | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | May 21 – Jun 5 | Jul 11 – Jul 26 | matures comfortably |
| Spinach | Hardy | — | Mar 27 – Apr 10 | May 6 – May 16 | Jul 31 – Aug 10 | matures comfortably |
| Carrot | Half-hardy | — | Apr 17 – Apr 24 | Jun 16 – Jul 6 | Jul 1 – Jul 21 | matures comfortably |
| Broccoli | Half-hardy | Mar 13 – Mar 27 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 | Jun 4 – Jun 24 | Jul 6 – Jul 26 | matures comfortably |
Which crops fit this growing season
Using Sturgis's own 147-day growing season (32°F, NOAA 1991–2020 median) against each crop's real days-to-maturity range: 12 of 12 crops mature here with comfortable margin. A different location in the table above with a longer or shorter season will get a different mix — the ZIP planner on the home page gives your own.
Frost & freeze dates (Sturgis)
From NOAA's 1991–2020 Climate Normals at station USC00393069. The median (p50) is the average date; the 90%-safe column is the date the freeze has passed in about 9 years out of 10 — the conservative date to plant after or harvest before.
| Threshold | Last spring — avg | Last spring — 90%-safe | First fall — avg | First fall — 90%-safe | Season (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 19 | May 31 | Sep 24 | Oct 6 | 127 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 8 | May 21 | Oct 3 | Oct 17 | 147 |
| 28°F | Apr 28 | May 11 | Oct 13 | Oct 27 | 167 |
| 24°F | Apr 17 | May 1 | Oct 23 | Nov 5 | 187 |
Growing degree days
Growing degree days (GDD) accumulate warmth above a base temperature over the year — a better predictor of crop development than the calendar alone. This group's median GDD (base 50°F) across all 57 locations is 2,787; Sturgis's own reading is shown below.
| Model | °F·days | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Base 50°F (warm-season) | 2,685 | standard warm-season base (tomato, corn, beans) |
| Base 40°F (cool-season) | 4,744 | cool-season crops (brassicas, greens) |
Hardiness zone 5a in South Dakota
Zone 5a means an average annual extreme minimum winter temperature of about −20 to −15 °F on the USDA's 2023 map — the number that tells you which perennials, shrubs, and trees reliably survive an average winter here. It does not set your planting dates, which come from the frost calendar above. South Dakota spans 4 hardiness zones in this dataset — see all South Dakota locations for the full range, including zones4a, 4b, 5b.
Explore zone 5a in other states at zone 5a, or see all USDA hardiness zones.
Frequently asked questions
- What does USDA hardiness zone 5a mean in South Dakota?
- Zone 5a means an average annual extreme minimum winter temperature of −20 to −15 °F — the standard USDA measure of which perennials survive winter. 57 locations in South Dakota fall in this zone. It does not set planting dates; see the frost calendar below for that.
- Where in South Dakota's zone 5a is the growing season longest?
- Marty runs the longest season on this page at about 165 days; Johnson Siding is shortest at about 112 days — they share the same hardiness zone, but they sit at different weather stations, so their frost calendars differ.
- When should I plant tomatoes in South Dakota's zone 5a?
- Using Sturgis's frost dates (this page's median-season location): start seeds indoors about Mar 13 – Mar 27, then transplant outside about May 15 – May 22. Your own location in the table above may differ by a week or two — use the ZIP planner on the home page for your exact station's dates.
- Does every location in South Dakota's zone 5a have the same frost dates?
- No — they do not all share a weather station, so frost dates vary by a week or more across the 57 locations listed (see the table above for each location's own dates).
Sources & method
Frost, freeze, growing-season, and growing-degree-day figures are NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, one reading per location's own nearest station (see the table above). The hardiness zone is the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023, matched to each location's ZIP. Planting windows are computed by counting from the average last and first frost using per-crop offsets synthesized from U.S. Cooperative Extension guides — the full method and citations are on the methodology page.