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

Planting zone for 57548 — Lower Brule, SD

ZIP code 57548 (Lower Brule, Lyman County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 6 and the first fall frost October 5.

Where ZIP 57548 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 6
First frostOct 5
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 Lower Brule, 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 Lower Brule, 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 5median — 10% chance by Sep 23
Growing season152 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 28 and returns around October 16.

From the NOAA station Lake Sharpe Prj, SD — 9 miles away, elevation 1,460 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 57548

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 10 – Aug 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 21 – Oct 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (Oct 5) 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 57548 came on Mar 24 — 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 9).

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 Lower Brule, SD.

Soil in Lower Brule, SD

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 57548 is Orton — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Orton loam, 2 to 7 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 57548; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lower Brule, SD

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low7 °Faverage low, January
Hot days31days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights171nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,853base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 30 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 52 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation20.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall19 inper year

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 29 °F, low 7 °F 29°7° JanFebruary: average high 35 °F, low 10 °F 35°10° FebMarch: average high 46 °F, low 20 °F 46°20° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 31 °F 59°31° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 44 °F 71°44° MayJune: average high 80 °F, low 55 °F 80°55° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 61 °F 88°61° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 59 °F 86°59° AugSeptember: average high 78 °F, low 50 °F 78°50° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 36 °F 62°36° OctNovember: average high 46 °F, low 23 °F 46°23° NovDecember: average high 34 °F, low 11 °F 34°11° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.48 in precipitation, 2.7 in snowfall 0.5❄3 JanFebruary: 0.54 in precipitation, 5.4 in snowfall 0.5❄5 FebMarch: 0.92 in precipitation, 3 in snowfall 0.9❄3 MarApril: 1.78 in precipitation, 2.6 in snowfall 1.8❄3 AprMay: 3.15 in precipitation 3.1 MayJune: 3.82 in precipitation 3.8 JunJuly: 2.80 in precipitation 2.8 JulAugust: 2.22 in precipitation 2.2 AugSeptember: 2.01 in precipitation 2.0 SepOctober: 1.61 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.6 OctNovember: 0.43 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 0.4❄1 NovDecember: 0.35 in precipitation, 3.9 in snowfall 0.3❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lake Sharpe Prj, SD (9 mi away); precipitation: Lake Sharpe Prj, SD (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

573394b
Fort Thompson, SD · 7 mi
573464b
Stephan, SD · 9 mi
575364b
Harrold, SD · 20 mi
575404b
Holabird, SD · 20 mi
575695a
Reliance, SD · 21 mi
575445a
Kennebec, SD · 23 mi
573655a
Oacoma, SD · 26 mi
573255a
Chamberlain, SD · 27 mi

South Dakota planting zones →

Questions about 57548

What planting zone is ZIP code 57548?

ZIP code 57548 (Lower Brule, 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 Lower Brule, SD?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 57548 is May 6; after May 20 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lake Sharpe Prj station.

When is the first frost in Lower Brule, SD?

The median first fall frost near 57548 is October 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 152 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 57548?

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 57548 get?

About 20.1 inches of precipitation a year and 19 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lake Sharpe Prj station).

How hot do summers get in Lower Brule, SD?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 31 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 57548 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Orton at the center of ZIP 57548: loam, well drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Lower Brule, SD in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 57548 came on Mar 24 in 2026, 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 9), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Lower Brule, SD?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 57548 is 15 h 30 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).