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

Planting zone for 57523 — Burke, SD

ZIP code 57523 (Burke, Gregory County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 6 and the first fall frost October 3.

Where ZIP 57523 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 6
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 Burke, 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 Burke, SD

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 3median — 10% chance by Sep 21
Growing season149 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 26 and returns around October 13.

From the NOAA station Gregory, SD — 10 miles away, elevation 2,159 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 57523

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesTransplant · May 13 – May 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
BeansSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
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 6) 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 57523 came on Mar 22 — 15 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 Burke, SD.

Soil in Burke, SD

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 57523 is Anselmo — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Anselmo-Tassel fine sandy loams, 6 to 25 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 57523; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Burke, SD

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low10 °Faverage low, January
Hot days29days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights165nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,833base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 24 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 58 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

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 32 °F, low 10 °F 32°10° JanFebruary: average high 36 °F, low 13 °F 36°13° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 23 °F 47°23° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 33 °F 58°33° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 45 °F 69°45° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 56 °F 80°56° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 62 °F 87°62° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 59 °F 85°59° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 50 °F 77°50° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 36 °F 62°36° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 23 °F 47°23° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 14 °F 35°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.52 in precipitation 0.5 JanFebruary: 0.78 in precipitation 0.8 FebMarch: 1.28 in precipitation 1.3 MarApril: 2.77 in precipitation 2.8 AprMay: 3.96 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 3.81 in precipitation 3.8 JunJuly: 3.06 in precipitation 3.1 JulAugust: 3.35 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 2.75 in precipitation 2.8 SepOctober: 2.17 in precipitation 2.2 OctNovember: 0.85 in precipitation 0.8 NovDecember: 0.65 in precipitation 0.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Gregory, SD (10 mi away); precipitation: Burke 2.4 Ne, SD (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

575385a
Herrick, SD · 10 mi
575335a
Gregory, SD · 12 mi
573175a
Bonesteel, SD · 15 mi
575715a
Saint Charles, SD · 16 mi
573695a
Platte, SD · 19 mi
687555a
Naper, NE · 23 mi
687225a
Butte, NE · 29 mi
687535a
Mills, NE · 30 mi

South Dakota planting zones →

Questions about 57523

What planting zone is ZIP code 57523?

ZIP code 57523 (Burke, 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 Burke, SD?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 57523 is May 6; after May 20 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gregory station.

When is the first frost in Burke, SD?

The median first fall frost near 57523 is October 3, giving a median frost-free growing season of 149 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 57523?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 11 – Mar 25 and set transplants outside around May 13 – May 27, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 57523 get?

About 25.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Burke 2.4 Ne station).

How hot do summers get in Burke, SD?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 29 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 57523 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Anselmo at the center of ZIP 57523: fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Burke, SD in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 57523 came on Mar 22 in 2026, 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 6), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Burke, SD?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 57523 is 15 h 24 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).