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

Planting zone for 57025 — Elk Point, SD

ZIP code 57025 (Elk Point, Union County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 3 and the first fall frost October 3.

Where ZIP 57025 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 3
First frostOct 3
2012 zone5a

Same zone as on the 2012 map. 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 Elk Point, 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 Elk Point, SD

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 3median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 16only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 3median — 10% chance by Sep 20
Growing season153 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Vermillion 2 Se, SD — 12 miles away, elevation 1,139 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 57025

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 12
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
TomatoesTransplant · May 10 – May 24
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 17 – May 31
BeansSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
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 3) 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 57025 came on Mar 23 — 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 6).

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 Elk Point, SD.

Soil in Elk Point, SD

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 57025 is Luton — 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 matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Luton silty clay.

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 57025; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Elk Point, SD

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low10 °Faverage low, January
Hot days29days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights152nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,160base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 20 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 02 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation30.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall36 inper year; 62 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 31 °F, low 10 °F 31°10° JanFebruary: average high 36 °F, low 14 °F 36°14° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 25 °F 48°25° MarApril: average high 62 °F, low 36 °F 62°36° AprMay: average high 73 °F, low 48 °F 73°48° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 63 °F 86°63° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 61 °F 83°61° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 52 °F 78°52° SepOctober: average high 65 °F, low 39 °F 65°39° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 25 °F 48°25° NovDecember: average high 34 °F, low 15 °F 34°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.68 in precipitation, 6.2 in snowfall 0.7❄6 JanFebruary: 0.87 in precipitation, 6.6 in snowfall 0.9❄7 FebMarch: 1.75 in precipitation, 5.8 in snowfall 1.8❄6 MarApril: 3.49 in precipitation, 3.5 in snowfall 3.5❄4 AprMay: 4.26 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 4.3 MayJune: 4.52 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 3.19 in precipitation 3.2 JulAugust: 3.43 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.01 in precipitation 3.0 SepOctober: 2.55 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 2.5❄1 OctNovember: 1.52 in precipitation, 5.6 in snowfall 1.5❄6 NovDecember: 0.99 in precipitation, 7.4 in snowfall 1.0❄7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Vermillion 2 Se, SD (12 mi away); precipitation: Newcastle, NE (10 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

510625a
Westfield, IA · 8 mi
570105a
Burbank, SD · 9 mi
687705a
Ponca, NE · 11 mi
570385a
Jefferson, SD · 11 mi
510015a
Akron, IA · 11 mi
687575a
Newcastle, NE · 13 mi
511095a
Sioux City, IA · 14 mi
687515a
Maskell, NE · 15 mi

South Dakota planting zones →

Questions about 57025

What planting zone is ZIP code 57025?

ZIP code 57025 (Elk Point, 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 Elk Point, SD?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 57025 is May 3; after May 16 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Vermillion 2 Se station.

When is the first frost in Elk Point, SD?

The median first fall frost near 57025 is October 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 153 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 57025?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 8 – Mar 22 and set transplants outside around May 10 – May 24, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 57025 get?

About 30.3 inches of precipitation a year and 36 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Newcastle station).

How hot do summers get in Elk Point, SD?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 29 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 57025 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Luton at the center of ZIP 57025: silty clay, poorly drained, pH about 7.2 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Elk Point, SD in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 57025 came on Mar 23 in 2026, 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 6), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Elk Point, SD?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 57025 is 15 h 20 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).