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

Planting zone for 57461 — Mellette, SD

ZIP code 57461 (Mellette, Spink County) is in USDA zone 4a: the coldest winter night averages −30 to −25 °F. The median last spring frost is May 11 and the first fall frost September 27.

Where ZIP 57461 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.

Zone4a−30 to −25 °F
Coldest night−34.4 to −31.7 °C
Last frostMay 11
First frostSep 27
2012 zone4a

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 4a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Mellette, 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 Mellette, SD

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 11median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 27median — 10% chance by Sep 15
Growing season137 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 2 and returns around October 4.

From the NOAA station Mellette 4 W, SD — 7 miles away, elevation 1,296 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 57461

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 20
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 20 – May 4
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 13 – Apr 27
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 20 – May 4
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 16 – Mar 30
TomatoesTransplant · May 18 – Jun 1
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 2 – Mar 16
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 25 – Jun 8
BeansSow outdoors · May 18 – Jun 1
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 18 – Jun 1
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 18 – Jun 1
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 2 – Aug 16
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 13 – Oct 18
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 11) and first fall frost (Sep 27) 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 57461 came on Apr 8 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 17).

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 4a in South Dakota

384 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in South Dakota, and rated by the USDA to survive −30 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 4a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 21

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 °Fboxelder60 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °F

Shrubs 62

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 165

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 126

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 4

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 °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 Mellette, SD.

Soil in Mellette, SD

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 57461 is Aberdeen — silty clay loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Aberdeen-Nahon silty clay loams, 0 to 2 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 57461; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Mellette, SD

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low1 °Faverage low, January
Hot days16days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights182nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,360base 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)
Precipitation22.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall34 inper year

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 22 °F, low 1 °F 22°1° JanFebruary: average high 27 °F, low 5 °F 27°5° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 17 °F 40°17° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 29 °F 56°29° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 43 °F 69°43° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 54 °F 79°54° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 59 °F 84°59° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 55 °F 82°55° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 45 °F 74°45° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 32 °F 59°32° OctNovember: average high 42 °F, low 19 °F 42°19° NovDecember: average high 28 °F, low 7 °F 28°7° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.38 in precipitation, 5.2 in snowfall 0.4❄5 JanFebruary: 0.50 in precipitation, 7.5 in snowfall 0.5❄8 FebMarch: 0.89 in precipitation, 5.5 in snowfall 0.9❄6 MarApril: 2.09 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 2.1❄1 AprMay: 3.47 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 3.63 in precipitation 3.6 JunJuly: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 2.12 in precipitation 2.1 AugSeptember: 2.14 in precipitation 2.1 SepOctober: 2.33 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 2.3❄1 OctNovember: 0.83 in precipitation, 3.2 in snowfall 0.8❄3 NovDecember: 0.51 in precipitation, 10.7 in snowfall 0.5❄11 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Mellette 4 W, SD (7 mi away); precipitation: Stratford 7sw, SD (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

3 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

574294a
Brentford, SD · 7 mi
574794a
Warner, SD · 10 mi
574244b
Ashton, SD · 11 mi
574654a
Northville, SD · 11 mi
574744a
Stratford, SD · 12 mi
574604b
Mansfield, SD · 14 mi
574774b
Turton, SD · 17 mi
574344a
Conde, SD · 18 mi

South Dakota planting zones →

Questions about 57461

What planting zone is ZIP code 57461?

ZIP code 57461 (Mellette, SD) is in USDA hardiness zone 4a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −30 to −25 °F (−34.4 to −31.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Mellette, SD?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 57461 is May 11; after May 23 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mellette 4 W station.

When is the first frost in Mellette, SD?

The median first fall frost near 57461 is September 27, giving a median frost-free growing season of 137 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 57461?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 16 – Mar 30 and set transplants outside around May 18 – Jun 1, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 57461 get?

About 22.4 inches of precipitation a year and 34 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Stratford 7sw station).

How hot do summers get in Mellette, SD?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 16 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 57461 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Aberdeen at the center of ZIP 57461: silty clay loam, moderately well drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Mellette, SD in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 57461 came on Apr 8 in 2026, 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 17), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Mellette, SD?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 57461 is 15 h 38 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).