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

Planting zone for 57649 — Prairie City, SD

ZIP code 57649 (Prairie City, Perkins County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 30 and the first fall frost September 11.

Where ZIP 57649 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 30
First frostSep 11
2012 zone4a

Was 4a 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 4b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Prairie City, 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 Prairie City, SD

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 11median — 10% chance by Aug 28
Growing season103 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 18 and returns around September 21.

From the NOAA station Lodgepole 5sw, SD — 18 miles away, elevation 2,569 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 57649

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 9 – May 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · May 2 – May 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 9 – May 23
LettuceSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 9 – May 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 6 – Jun 20
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 13 – Jun 27
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 6 – Jun 20
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 6 – Jun 20
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 6 – Jun 20
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 17 – Jul 31
GarlicPlant cloves · Aug 28 – Oct 2
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 30) and first fall frost (Sep 11) 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 57649 came on Mar 24 — 22 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15).

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 Prairie City, SD.

Soil in Prairie City, SD

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 57649 is Morton — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter6%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Morton-Lantry loams, 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 57649; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Prairie City, SD

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low5 °Faverage low, January
Hot days14days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights214nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,745base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 41 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 42 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation17.7 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 28 °F, low 5 °F 28°5° JanFebruary: average high 31 °F, low 7 °F 31°7° FebMarch: average high 43 °F, low 16 °F 43°16° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 25 °F 54°25° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 36 °F 65°36° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 47 °F 74°47° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 52 °F 82°52° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 49 °F 82°49° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 40 °F 73°40° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 27 °F 57°27° OctNovember: average high 42 °F, low 14 °F 42°14° NovDecember: average high 31 °F, low 7 °F 31°7° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.34 in precipitation 0.3 JanFebruary: 0.88 in precipitation 0.9 FebMarch: 0.94 in precipitation 0.9 MarApril: 1.68 in precipitation 1.7 AprMay: 3.00 in precipitation 3.0 MayJune: 3.05 in precipitation 3.0 JunJuly: 2.27 in precipitation 2.3 JulAugust: 1.78 in precipitation 1.8 AugSeptember: 1.41 in precipitation 1.4 SepOctober: 1.49 in precipitation 1.5 OctNovember: 0.50 in precipitation 0.5 NovDecember: 0.32 in precipitation 0.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lodgepole 5sw, SD (18 mi away); precipitation: Bison 24.1 Sw, SD (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 4b.

576514b
Reva, SD · 9 mi
576204b
Bison, SD · 17 mi
576404b
Lodgepole, SD · 21 mi
576504b
Ralph, SD · 25 mi
577584b
Mud Butte, SD · 35 mi
577554b
Ludlow, SD · 36 mi
577204b
Buffalo, SD · 36 mi
577764b
Redig, SD · 36 mi

South Dakota planting zones →

Questions about 57649

What planting zone is ZIP code 57649?

ZIP code 57649 (Prairie City, 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 Prairie City, SD?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 57649 is May 30; after June 13 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lodgepole 5sw station.

When is the first frost in Prairie City, SD?

The median first fall frost near 57649 is September 11, giving a median frost-free growing season of 103 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 57649?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Apr 4 – Apr 18 and set transplants outside around Jun 6 – Jun 20, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 57649 get?

About 17.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bison 24.1 Sw station).

How hot do summers get in Prairie City, SD?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 14 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 57649 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Morton at the center of ZIP 57649: loam, well drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Prairie City, SD in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 57649 came on Mar 24 in 2026, 22 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 15), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Prairie City, SD?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 57649 is 15 h 41 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 57649 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 57649 in zone 4a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 4b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.