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

Planting zone for 57442 — Gettysburg, SD

ZIP code 57442 (Gettysburg, Potter County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 7 and the first fall frost October 2.

Where ZIP 57442 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.

Zone4b−25 to −20 °F
Coldest night−31.7 to −28.9 °C
Last frostMay 7
First frostOct 2
2012 zone4b

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 4b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Gettysburg, 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 Gettysburg, SD

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 7median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 2median — 10% chance by Sep 21
Growing season147 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 29 and returns around October 10.

From the NOAA station Gettysburg, SD — 11 miles away, elevation 2,083 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 57442

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 16
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
TomatoesTransplant · May 14 – May 28
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 21 – Jun 4
BeansSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 7 – Aug 21
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 18 – Oct 23
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 7) and first fall frost (Oct 2) 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 57442 came on Mar 28 — 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 14).

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 Gettysburg, SD.

Soil in Gettysburg, SD

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 57442 is Opal — silty clay, well drained.

TextureSilty clayholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.6slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Opal-Sansarc silty clays, very stony, 6 to 15 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 57442; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Gettysburg, SD

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low5 °Faverage low, January
Hot days20days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights176nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,518base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 38 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 45 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation20.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall39 inper year

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 25 °F, low 5 °F 25°5° JanFebruary: average high 29 °F, low 9 °F 29°9° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 20 °F 42°20° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 32 °F 56°32° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 44 °F 68°44° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 55 °F 78°55° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 60 °F 84°60° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 58 °F 83°58° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 48 °F 74°48° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 35 °F 58°35° OctNovember: average high 42 °F, low 21 °F 42°21° NovDecember: average high 29 °F, low 10 °F 29°10° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.29 in precipitation, 6.8 in snowfall 0.3❄7 JanFebruary: 0.57 in precipitation, 10.6 in snowfall 0.6❄11 FebMarch: 0.66 in precipitation, 5.5 in snowfall 0.7❄6 MarApril: 1.86 in precipitation, 4.5 in snowfall 1.9❄5 AprMay: 3.03 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 3.0 MayJune: 3.45 in precipitation 3.5 JunJuly: 3.01 in precipitation 3.0 JulAugust: 2.49 in precipitation 2.5 AugSeptember: 2.01 in precipitation 2.0 SepOctober: 1.89 in precipitation, 1.3 in snowfall 1.9❄1 OctNovember: 0.51 in precipitation, 3 in snowfall 0.5❄3 NovDecember: 0.40 in precipitation, 6.7 in snowfall 0.4❄7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Gettysburg, SD (11 mi away); precipitation: Gettysburg, SD (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 4b.

575204b
Agar, SD · 15 mi
574204b
Akaska, SD · 15 mi
574504b
Hoven, SD · 19 mi
576014b
Mobridge, SD · 22 mi
575644b
Onida, SD · 23 mi
574554b
Lebanon, SD · 24 mi
574724b
Selby, SD · 25 mi
576524b
Ridgeview, SD · 26 mi

South Dakota planting zones →

Questions about 57442

What planting zone is ZIP code 57442?

ZIP code 57442 (Gettysburg, SD) is in USDA hardiness zone 4b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −25 to −20 °F (−31.7 to −28.9 °C).

When is the last frost in Gettysburg, SD?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 57442 is May 7; after May 21 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gettysburg station.

When is the first frost in Gettysburg, SD?

The median first fall frost near 57442 is October 2, giving a median frost-free growing season of 147 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 57442?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 12 – Mar 26 and set transplants outside around May 14 – May 28, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 57442 get?

About 20.2 inches of precipitation a year and 39 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gettysburg station).

How hot do summers get in Gettysburg, SD?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 20 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 57442 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Opal at the center of ZIP 57442: silty clay, well drained, pH about 7.6 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Gettysburg, SD in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 57442 came on Mar 28 in 2026, 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 14), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Gettysburg, SD?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 57442 is 15 h 38 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).