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

Planting zone for Wahpeton, ND

Wahpeton, ND is in USDA zone 4a across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 4 and the first fall frost October 3.

Wahpeton on the zone map

Outlined: its 3 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 codes3
Last frostMay 4
First frostOct 3
Growing season152 days

4a 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Wahpeton, ND…

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 Wahpeton, ND

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 4median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 17only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 3median — 10% chance by Sep 21
Growing season152 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 24 and returns around October 14.

From the NOAA station Breckenridge 3e, MN, elevation 971 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 Wahpeton

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 13
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 6 – Apr 20
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
TomatoesTransplant · May 11 – May 25
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 18 – Jun 1
BeansSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 11 – May 25
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 8 – Aug 22
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 19 – Oct 24
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 4) and first fall frost (Oct 3) 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 58075 came on Apr 21 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 20).

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 Wahpeton, ND.

Soil in Wahpeton, ND

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 58075 is Ryan — silty clay, poorly drained.

TextureSilty clayholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter5%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Ryan-Fargo silty clays, 0 to 1 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 58075; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Wahpeton, ND

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low−1 °Faverage low, January
Hot days9days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights178nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,421base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 47 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 36 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation25.2 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 19 °F, low -1 °F 19°−1° JanFebruary: average high 23 °F, low 2 °F 23°2° FebMarch: average high 37 °F, low 17 °F 37°17° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 31 °F 54°31° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 45 °F 68°45° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 56 °F 77°56° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 60 °F 83°60° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 57 °F 81°57° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 48 °F 73°48° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 34 °F 57°34° OctNovember: average high 39 °F, low 20 °F 39°20° NovDecember: average high 24 °F, low 7 °F 24°7° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.65 in precipitation 0.7 JanFebruary: 0.64 in precipitation 0.6 FebMarch: 1.14 in precipitation 1.1 MarApril: 1.95 in precipitation 1.9 AprMay: 3.38 in precipitation 3.4 MayJune: 4.11 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 2.85 in precipitation 2.9 AugSeptember: 2.86 in precipitation 2.9 SepOctober: 2.33 in precipitation 2.3 OctNovember: 0.85 in precipitation 0.8 NovDecember: 0.91 in precipitation 0.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Breckenridge 3e, MN (10 mi away); precipitation: Abercrombie 0.2 Nw, ND (12 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Wahpeton

580744a
−30 to −25 °F
580754a
−30 to −25 °F
580764a
−30 to −25 °F

North Dakota planting zones →

Questions about Wahpeton

What planting zone is Wahpeton, ND?

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

When is the last frost in Wahpeton, ND?

The median last spring frost is May 4 and the median first fall frost is October 3 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Breckenridge 3e station).

When can I plant a garden in Wahpeton, ND?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 23 – Apr 13; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 11, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Wahpeton, ND?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 47 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Wahpeton, ND get?

About 25.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).