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

Planting zone for 57317 — Bonesteel, SD

ZIP code 57317 (Bonesteel, Gregory 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 10.

Where ZIP 57317 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 10
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 Bonesteel, 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 Bonesteel, 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 15only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 10median — 10% chance by Sep 26
Growing season159 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 23 and returns around October 19.

From the NOAA station Bonesteel, SD — 4 miles away, elevation 1,985 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 57317

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 15 – Aug 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 26 – Oct 31
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 3) and first fall frost (Oct 10) 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 57317 came on Mar 22 — 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7).

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 Bonesteel, SD.

Soil in Bonesteel, SD

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 57317 is Labu — silty clay, well drained.

TextureSilty clayholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.5slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Labu-Sansarc silty clays, 9 to 35 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 57317; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bonesteel, SD

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low11 °Faverage low, January
Hot days26days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights162nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,900base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 23 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 59 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation25.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall37 inper year; 61 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 11 °F 31°11° JanFebruary: average high 36 °F, low 14 °F 36°14° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 23 °F 47°23° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 34 °F 58°34° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 45 °F 69°45° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 62 °F 87°62° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 60 °F 85°60° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 51 °F 76°51° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 37 °F 62°37° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 24 °F 47°24° NovDecember: average high 34 °F, low 15 °F 34°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.40 in precipitation, 5.5 in snowfall 0.4❄6 JanFebruary: 0.73 in precipitation, 5.9 in snowfall 0.7❄6 FebMarch: 1.42 in precipitation, 5.5 in snowfall 1.4❄6 MarApril: 3.10 in precipitation, 7.7 in snowfall 3.1❄8 AprMay: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 MayJune: 3.90 in precipitation 3.9 JunJuly: 3.16 in precipitation 3.2 JulAugust: 2.79 in precipitation 2.8 AugSeptember: 2.91 in precipitation 2.9 SepOctober: 1.97 in precipitation, 2 in snowfall 2.0❄2 OctNovember: 0.92 in precipitation, 6.9 in snowfall 0.9❄7 NovDecember: 0.33 in precipitation, 3.7 in snowfall 0.3❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Bonesteel, SD (4 mi away); precipitation: Bonesteel, SD (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

575715a
Saint Charles, SD · 9 mi
575385a
Herrick, SD · 10 mi
573355a
Fairfax, SD · 12 mi
573425a
Geddes, SD · 15 mi
575235a
Burke, SD · 15 mi
687225a
Butte, NE · 16 mi
687555a
Naper, NE · 17 mi
573695a
Platte, SD · 19 mi

South Dakota planting zones →

Questions about 57317

What planting zone is ZIP code 57317?

ZIP code 57317 (Bonesteel, 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 Bonesteel, SD?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 57317 is May 3; after May 15 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bonesteel station.

When is the first frost in Bonesteel, SD?

The median first fall frost near 57317 is October 10, giving a median frost-free growing season of 159 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 57317?

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 57317 get?

About 25.9 inches of precipitation a year and 37 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bonesteel station).

How hot do summers get in Bonesteel, SD?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 26 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 57317 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Labu at the center of ZIP 57317: silty clay, well drained, pH about 7.5 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Bonesteel, SD in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 57317 came on Mar 22 in 2026, 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Bonesteel, SD?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 57317 is 15 h 23 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).