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

Planting zone for 57001 — Alcester, SD

ZIP code 57001 (Alcester, Union County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 1 and the first fall frost October 4.

Where ZIP 57001 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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
Coldest night−28.9 to −26.1 °C
Last frostMay 1
First frostOct 4
2012 zone4b

Was 4b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Alcester, 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 Alcester, SD

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 14only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 4median — 10% chance by Sep 21
Growing season155 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 22 and returns around October 16.

From the NOAA station Hawarden, IA — 9 miles away, elevation 1,191 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 57001

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
TomatoesTransplant · May 8 – May 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 15 – May 29
BeansSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 9 – Aug 23
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 20 – Oct 25
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 1) and first fall frost (Oct 4) 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 57001 came on Mar 25 — 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 10).

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 Alcester, SD.

Soil in Alcester, SD

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 57001 is Alcester — silty clay loam, well drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.75%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Alcester silty clay loam, 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 57001; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Alcester, SD

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low7 °Faverage low, January
Hot days19days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights166nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,862base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 22 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 00 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation29.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall31 inper year; 47 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 27 °F, low 7 °F 27°7° JanFebruary: average high 32 °F, low 11 °F 32°11° FebMarch: average high 45 °F, low 23 °F 45°23° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 34 °F 59°34° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 47 °F 71°47° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 58 °F 81°58° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 62 °F 85°62° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 59 °F 83°59° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 50 °F 76°50° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 36 °F 62°36° OctNovember: average high 45 °F, low 23 °F 45°23° NovDecember: average high 31 °F, low 13 °F 31°13° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.70 in precipitation, 6.8 in snowfall 0.7❄7 JanFebruary: 0.79 in precipitation, 6.4 in snowfall 0.8❄6 FebMarch: 1.69 in precipitation, 4.4 in snowfall 1.7❄4 MarApril: 3.15 in precipitation, 2.3 in snowfall 3.1❄2 AprMay: 4.04 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 4.0 MayJune: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 JunJuly: 3.19 in precipitation 3.2 JulAugust: 3.57 in precipitation 3.6 AugSeptember: 3.25 in precipitation 3.3 SepOctober: 2.54 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 2.5 OctNovember: 1.31 in precipitation, 3.1 in snowfall 1.3❄3 NovDecember: 1.27 in precipitation, 7.3 in snowfall 1.3❄7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Hawarden, IA (9 mi away); precipitation: Hawarden, IA (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

570045a
Beresford, SD · 8 mi
510235a
Hawarden, IA · 10 mi
570345a
Hudson, SD · 10 mi
510015a
Akron, IA · 13 mi
570275a
Fairview, SD · 15 mi
570105a
Burbank, SD · 16 mi
570145a
Centerville, SD · 17 mi
510275a
Ireton, IA · 17 mi

South Dakota planting zones →

Questions about 57001

What planting zone is ZIP code 57001?

ZIP code 57001 (Alcester, SD) is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −20 to −15 °F (−28.9 to −26.1 °C).

When is the last frost in Alcester, SD?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 57001 is May 1; after May 14 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hawarden station.

When is the first frost in Alcester, SD?

The median first fall frost near 57001 is October 4, giving a median frost-free growing season of 155 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 57001?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 6 – Mar 20 and set transplants outside around May 8 – May 22, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 57001 get?

About 29.9 inches of precipitation a year and 31 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hawarden station).

How hot do summers get in Alcester, SD?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 19 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 57001 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Alcester at the center of ZIP 57001: silty clay loam, well drained, pH about 7.2 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Alcester, SD in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 57001 came on Mar 25 in 2026, 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 10), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Alcester, SD?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 57001 is 15 h 22 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 57001 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 57001 in zone 4b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.