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

Planting zone for Aberdeen, SD

Aberdeen, SD is in USDA zone 4a across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 8 and the first fall frost September 29.

Aberdeen 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.

Zone4a−30 to −25 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMay 8
First frostSep 29
Growing season144 days

4a 2 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 Aberdeen, SD

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 8median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 29median — 10% chance by Sep 17
Growing season144 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 29 and returns around October 7.

From the NOAA station Aberdeen 3 E, SD, elevation 1,303 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 Aberdeen

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 17 – May 1
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
TomatoesTransplant · May 15 – May 29
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
BeansSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 4 – Aug 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 15 – Oct 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 8) and first fall frost (Sep 29) 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 57402 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 South Dakota

384 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in South 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 °Fblack locust60 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −37 °Fblack maple100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °Fboxelder60 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °F

Shrubs 62

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Falderleaf mountain mahogany15 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −41 °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 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 165

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine mountainsorrel1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °Falpine sweetvetch2 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 126

Alaska oniongrass3 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Falkali cordgrass3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid 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 Aberdeen, SD.

Soil in Aberdeen, SD

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 57402 is Great Bend — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Great Bend-Beotia silt loams, 0 to 2 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 57402; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Aberdeen, SD

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low0 °Faverage low, January
Hot days9days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights179nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,436base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 41 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 42 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation23.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall42 inper year

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 22 °F, low 0 °F 22°0° JanFebruary: average high 26 °F, low 5 °F 26°5° FebMarch: average high 39 °F, low 18 °F 39°18° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 31 °F 55°31° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 45 °F 68°45° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°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 47 °F 73°47° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 33 °F 58°33° OctNovember: average high 41 °F, low 19 °F 41°19° NovDecember: average high 27 °F, low 7 °F 27°7° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.59 in precipitation, 6.1 in snowfall 0.6❄6 JanFebruary: 0.62 in precipitation, 7.7 in snowfall 0.6❄8 FebMarch: 0.99 in precipitation, 7.6 in snowfall 1.0❄8 MarApril: 1.90 in precipitation, 5 in snowfall 1.9❄5 AprMay: 3.19 in precipitation 3.2 MayJune: 3.99 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 2.63 in precipitation 2.6 AugSeptember: 2.38 in precipitation 2.4 SepOctober: 2.33 in precipitation, 1.9 in snowfall 2.3❄2 OctNovember: 0.76 in precipitation, 3.2 in snowfall 0.8❄3 NovDecember: 0.66 in precipitation, 10 in snowfall 0.7❄10 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Columbia 8 N, SD (9 mi away); precipitation: Bath 1ne, SD (8 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Aberdeen

574014a
−30 to −25 °F
574024a
−30 to −25 °F

South Dakota planting zones →

Questions about Aberdeen

What planting zone is Aberdeen, SD?

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

When is the last frost in Aberdeen, SD?

The median last spring frost is May 8 and the median first fall frost is September 29 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Aberdeen 3 E station).

When can I plant a garden in Aberdeen, SD?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 27 – Apr 17; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 15, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Aberdeen, SD?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 41 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Aberdeen, SD get?

About 23.6 inches of precipitation a year and 42 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).