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

Planting zone for 57551 — Martin, SD

ZIP code 57551 (Martin, Bennett County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost October 2.

Where ZIP 57551 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 13
First frostOct 2
2012 zone4b

Was 4b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. 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 Martin, 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 Martin, SD

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 13median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 27only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 2median — 10% chance by Sep 18
Growing season141 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 2 and returns around October 12.

From the NOAA station Martin, SD — 2 miles away, elevation 3,330 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 57551

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 22
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 22 – May 6
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
TomatoesTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 27 – Jun 10
BeansSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
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 13) 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 57551 came on Mar 13 — 20 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 2).

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 Martin, SD.

Soil in Martin, SD

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 57551 is Richfield — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Richfield-Keith silt loams, 2 to 6 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 57551; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Martin, SD

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days32days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights170nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,664base 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)
Precipitation20.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall48 inper year

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 35 °F, low 13 °F 35°13° JanFebruary: average high 38 °F, low 15 °F 38°15° FebMarch: average high 50 °F, low 24 °F 50°24° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 32 °F 59°32° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 42 °F 69°42° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 53 °F 79°53° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 59 °F 87°59° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 57 °F 86°57° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 48 °F 77°48° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 35 °F 61°35° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 23 °F 47°23° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 15 °F 36°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.42 in precipitation, 4.7 in snowfall 0.4❄5 JanFebruary: 0.65 in precipitation, 7.8 in snowfall 0.7❄8 FebMarch: 1.23 in precipitation, 8.8 in snowfall 1.2❄9 MarApril: 2.40 in precipitation, 9 in snowfall 2.4❄9 AprMay: 3.33 in precipitation, 1.8 in snowfall 3.3❄2 MayJune: 3.46 in precipitation 3.5 JunJuly: 2.86 in precipitation 2.9 JulAugust: 2.16 in precipitation 2.2 AugSeptember: 1.19 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.2 SepOctober: 1.60 in precipitation, 2.4 in snowfall 1.6❄2 OctNovember: 0.75 in precipitation, 5.7 in snowfall 0.8❄6 NovDecember: 0.63 in precipitation, 8.1 in snowfall 0.6❄8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Martin, SD (2 mi away); precipitation: Martin, SD (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

577145a
Allen, SD · 14 mi
575745a
Tuthill, SD · 17 mi
575775a
Wanblee, SD · 23 mi
575475a
Long Valley, SD · 25 mi
577165a
Batesland, SD · 26 mi
692185a
Merriman, NE · 29 mi
577525a
Kyle, SD · 30 mi
577505a
Interior, SD · 30 mi

South Dakota planting zones →

Questions about 57551

What planting zone is ZIP code 57551?

ZIP code 57551 (Martin, 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 Martin, SD?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 57551 is May 13; after May 27 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Martin station.

When is the first frost in Martin, SD?

The median first fall frost near 57551 is October 2, giving a median frost-free growing season of 141 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 57551?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 18 – Apr 1 and set transplants outside around May 20 – Jun 3, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 57551 get?

About 20.7 inches of precipitation a year and 48 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Martin station).

How hot do summers get in Martin, SD?

The average high peaks at 87 °F in July, with about 32 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 57551 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Richfield at the center of ZIP 57551: silt loam, well drained, pH about 7.2 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Martin, SD in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 57551 came on Mar 13 in 2026, 20 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 2), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Martin, SD?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 57551 is 15 h 23 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 57551 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 57551 in zone 4b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.