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

Planting zone for Dickinson, ND

Dickinson, ND is in USDA zones 4a to 4b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 20 and the first fall frost September 22.

Dickinson on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 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.

Zones4a–4b−30 to −20 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMay 20
First frostSep 22
Growing season123 days

4a 1 ZIP   4b 1 ZIP

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 Dickinson, ND

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 20median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 1only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 22median — 10% chance by Sep 8
Growing season123 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 10 and returns around September 29.

From the NOAA station Dickinson, ND, elevation 2,461 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 Dickinson

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 29
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 29 – May 13
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
TomatoesTransplant · May 27 – Jun 10
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 3 – Jun 17
BeansSow outdoors · May 27 – Jun 10
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 27 – Jun 10
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 27 – Jun 10
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 28 – Aug 11
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 8 – Oct 13
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 20) and first fall frost (Sep 22) 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 58601 came on Apr 17 — about the same time as 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 Dickinson, ND.

Soil in Dickinson, ND

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 58601 is Vebar — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Vebar-Parshall fine sandy loams, 3 to 6 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 58601; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Dickinson, ND

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low3 °Faverage low, January
Hot days20days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights201nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,024base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 53 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 31 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation18.7 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 27 °F, low 3 °F 27°3° JanFebruary: average high 31 °F, low 7 °F 31°7° FebMarch: average high 41 °F, low 17 °F 41°17° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 28 °F 54°28° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 40 °F 66°40° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 50 °F 75°50° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 55 °F 83°55° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 53 °F 83°53° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 43 °F 73°43° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 29 °F 57°29° OctNovember: average high 42 °F, low 17 °F 42°17° NovDecember: average high 30 °F, low 7 °F 30°7° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.48 in precipitation 0.5 JanFebruary: 0.51 in precipitation 0.5 FebMarch: 0.78 in precipitation 0.8 MarApril: 1.46 in precipitation 1.5 AprMay: 2.82 in precipitation 2.8 MayJune: 3.17 in precipitation 3.2 JunJuly: 2.68 in precipitation 2.7 JulAugust: 1.74 in precipitation 1.7 AugSeptember: 1.89 in precipitation 1.9 SepOctober: 1.48 in precipitation 1.5 OctNovember: 0.97 in precipitation 1.0 NovDecember: 0.69 in precipitation 0.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Dickinson, ND (2 mi away); precipitation: Dickinson 1.3 Wnw, ND (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Dickinson

586014b
−25 to −20 °F
586024a
−30 to −25 °F

North Dakota planting zones →

Questions about Dickinson

What planting zone is Dickinson, ND?

Dickinson, ND is in USDA hardiness zones 4a to 4b on the 2023 map (4a: −30 to −25 °F; 4b: −25 to −20 °F).

When is the last frost in Dickinson, ND?

The median last spring frost is May 20 and the median first fall frost is September 22 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Dickinson station).

When can I plant a garden in Dickinson, ND?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Apr 8 – Apr 29; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 27, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Dickinson, ND?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 53 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Dickinson, ND get?

About 18.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).