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

Planting zone for Sioux Falls, SD

Sioux Falls, SD is in USDA zone 5a across its 14 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost October 13.

Sioux Falls on the zone map

Outlined: its 8 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.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
ZIP codes14
Last frostApr 26
First frostOct 13
Growing season169 days

5a 14 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 Sioux Falls, SD

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 13median — 10% chance by Sep 28
Growing season169 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 15 and returns around October 24.

From the NOAA station Sioux Falls WFO Airport, SD, elevation 1,431 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 Sioux Falls

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Apr 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
TomatoesTransplant · May 3 – May 17
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 10 – May 24
BeansSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 18 – Sep 1
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 29 – Nov 3
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 26) and first fall frost (Oct 13) 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 57186 came on Mar 25 — 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 13).

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 5a in South Dakota

452 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in South Dakota, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. 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 70

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 202

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 144

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 Sioux Falls, SD.

Soil in Sioux Falls, SD

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 57186 is Moody — silty clay loam, well drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.6neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3.25%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Moody-Nora complex, 2 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 57186; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Sioux Falls, SD

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low7 °Faverage low, January
Hot days19days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights154nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,949base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 26 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 56 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation28.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 25 °F, low 7 °F 25°7° JanFebruary: average high 30 °F, low 11 °F 30°11° FebMarch: average high 43 °F, low 23 °F 43°23° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 36 °F 57°36° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 49 °F 70°49° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 59 °F 80°59° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 64 °F 85°64° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 61 °F 82°61° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 52 °F 75°52° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 38 °F 61°38° OctNovember: average high 44 °F, low 24 °F 44°24° NovDecember: average high 30 °F, low 13 °F 30°13° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.66 in precipitation 0.7 JanFebruary: 0.80 in precipitation 0.8 FebMarch: 1.47 in precipitation 1.5 MarApril: 3.03 in precipitation 3.0 AprMay: 3.74 in precipitation 3.7 MayJune: 4.59 in precipitation 4.6 JunJuly: 3.31 in precipitation 3.3 JulAugust: 3.34 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 3.04 in precipitation 3.0 SepOctober: 2.29 in precipitation 2.3 OctNovember: 1.19 in precipitation 1.2 NovDecember: 0.84 in precipitation 0.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Sioux Falls WFO Airport, SD (3 mi away); precipitation: Sioux Falls WFO Airport, SD (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Sioux Falls

571015a
−20 to −15 °F
571035a
−20 to −15 °F
571045a
−20 to −15 °F
571055a
−20 to −15 °F
571065a
−20 to −15 °F
571075a
−20 to −15 °F
571085a
−20 to −15 °F
571095a
−20 to −15 °F
571105a
−20 to −15 °F
571175a
−20 to −15 °F
571185a
−20 to −15 °F
571865a
−20 to −15 °F
571935a
−20 to −15 °F
571985a
−20 to −15 °F

South Dakota planting zones →

Questions about Sioux Falls

What planting zone is Sioux Falls, SD?

Sioux Falls, SD is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map (5a: −20 to −15 °F).

When is the last frost in Sioux Falls, SD?

The median last spring frost is April 26 and the median first fall frost is October 13 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sioux Falls WFO Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Sioux Falls, SD?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 15 – Apr 5; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 3, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Sioux Falls, SD?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 26 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Sioux Falls, SD get?

About 28.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).