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

Planting zone for Brookings, SD

Brookings, SD is in USDA zone 4b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 6 and the first fall frost October 1.

Brookings on the zone map

Outlined: its 2 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.

Zone4b−25 to −20 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMay 6
First frostOct 1
Growing season145 days

4b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Brookings, SD…

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 Brookings, SD

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 19only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 1median — 10% chance by Sep 17
Growing season145 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 28 and returns around October 8.

From the NOAA station Brookings 2 Ne, SD, elevation 1,641 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 Brookings

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesTransplant · May 13 – May 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
BeansSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 6 – Aug 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 17 – Oct 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (Oct 1) 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 57007 came on Apr 3 — 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 18).

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 4b in South Dakota

430 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in South Dakota, and rated by the USDA to survive −25 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 4b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 23

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 °Fblack walnut100 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °F

Shrubs 65

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 191

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 138

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 5

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 °FVirginia creeper1 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °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 Brookings, SD.

Soil in Brookings, SD

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 57007 is Vienna — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.4slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Vienna-Brookings complex, 1 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 57007; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Brookings, SD

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low4 °Faverage low, January
Hot days8days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights177nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,395base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 32 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 51 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
Snowfall36 inper year; 83 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 22 °F, low 4 °F 22°4° JanFebruary: average high 27 °F, low 7 °F 27°7° FebMarch: average high 39 °F, low 20 °F 39°20° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 32 °F 54°32° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 45 °F 67°45° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 56 °F 77°56° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 60 °F 81°60° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 57 °F 79°57° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 48 °F 72°48° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 34 °F 58°34° OctNovember: average high 41 °F, low 22 °F 41°22° NovDecember: average high 28 °F, low 10 °F 28°10° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.43 in precipitation, 5.5 in snowfall 0.4❄6 JanFebruary: 0.50 in precipitation, 7.1 in snowfall 0.5❄7 FebMarch: 1.06 in precipitation, 6.4 in snowfall 1.1❄6 MarApril: 2.17 in precipitation, 4.1 in snowfall 2.2❄4 AprMay: 3.45 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.5 MayJune: 4.29 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 3.61 in precipitation 3.6 JulAugust: 3.22 in precipitation 3.2 AugSeptember: 3.10 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 1.97 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 2.0❄1 OctNovember: 0.80 in precipitation, 4.7 in snowfall 0.8❄5 NovDecember: 0.61 in precipitation, 6.8 in snowfall 0.6❄7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Brookings 2 Ne, SD (within 1 mile); precipitation: Brookings 2 Ne, SD (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Brookings

570064b
−25 to −20 °F
570074b
−25 to −20 °F

South Dakota planting zones →

Questions about Brookings

What planting zone is Brookings, SD?

Brookings, SD is in USDA hardiness zone 4b on the 2023 map (4b: −25 to −20 °F).

When is the last frost in Brookings, SD?

The median last spring frost is May 6 and the median first fall frost is October 1 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Brookings 2 Ne station).

When can I plant a garden in Brookings, SD?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 25 – Apr 15; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 13, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Brookings, SD?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 32 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Brookings, SD get?

About 25.2 inches of precipitation a year and 36 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).