Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Bismarck, ND

Bismarck, ND is in USDA zone 4a across its 7 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 10 and the first fall frost September 30.

Bismarck on the zone map

Outlined: its 4 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone4a−30 to −25 °F
ZIP codes7
Last frostMay 10
First frostSep 30
Growing season142 days

4a 7 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Bismarck, ND

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 10median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 30median — 10% chance by Sep 16
Growing season142 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 1 and returns around October 9.

From the NOAA station Bismarck 2.4 Nnw, ND, elevation 1,831 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Bismarck

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 19 – May 3
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
TomatoesTransplant · May 17 – May 31
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 24 – Jun 7
BeansSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 5 – Aug 19
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 16 – Oct 21
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 10) and first fall frost (Sep 30) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 58501 came on Apr 16 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 19).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 4a in North Dakota

342 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in North Dakota, and rated by the USDA to survive −30 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 4a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 21

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °Fbalsam poplar80 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −79 °Fbigtooth aspen65 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −43 °Fblack ash65 ft · blooms early spring · high shade tolerance · to −47 °Fblack locust60 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −37 °F

Shrubs 56

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked hazelnut15 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °Fbig sagebrush4 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −43 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 146

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine sweetvetch2 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 110

alkali cordgrass3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fanalogue sedge1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 4

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fwestern white clematis1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Bismarck, ND.

Soil in Bismarck, ND

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 58501 is Zahl — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.9alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Zahl-Williams loams, 9 to 15 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 58501; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bismarck, ND

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low3 °Faverage low, January
Hot days18days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights185nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,300base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 52 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 32 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation19.2 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 23 °F, low 3 °F 23°3° JanFebruary: average high 28 °F, low 7 °F 28°7° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 18 °F 40°18° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 30 °F 55°30° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 42 °F 67°42° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 53 °F 76°53° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 58 °F 84°58° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 56 °F 83°56° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 47 °F 74°47° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 33 °F 57°33° OctNovember: average high 41 °F, low 19 °F 41°19° NovDecember: average high 28 °F, low 8 °F 28°8° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.47 in precipitation 0.5 JanFebruary: 0.49 in precipitation 0.5 FebMarch: 0.78 in precipitation 0.8 MarApril: 1.40 in precipitation 1.4 AprMay: 2.54 in precipitation 2.5 MayJune: 3.42 in precipitation 3.4 JunJuly: 3.11 in precipitation 3.1 JulAugust: 2.35 in precipitation 2.4 AugSeptember: 1.83 in precipitation 1.8 SepOctober: 1.49 in precipitation 1.5 OctNovember: 0.67 in precipitation 0.7 NovDecember: 0.66 in precipitation 0.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Bismarck WFO, ND (4 mi away); precipitation: Bismarck WFO, ND (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Bismarck

585014a
−30 to −25 °F
585024a
−30 to −25 °F
585034a
−30 to −25 °F
585044a
−30 to −25 °F
585054a
−30 to −25 °F
585064a
−30 to −25 °F
585074a
−30 to −25 °F

North Dakota planting zones →

Questions about Bismarck

What planting zone is Bismarck, ND?

Bismarck, ND is in USDA hardiness zone 4a on the 2023 map (4a: −30 to −25 °F).

When is the last frost in Bismarck, ND?

The median last spring frost is May 10 and the median first fall frost is September 30 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bismarck 2.4 Nnw station).

When can I plant a garden in Bismarck, ND?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 29 – Apr 19; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 17, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Bismarck, ND?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 52 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Bismarck, ND get?

About 19.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).