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

Planting zone for 57706 — Ellsworth Afb, SD

ZIP code 57706 (Ellsworth Afb, Meade County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 3 and the first fall frost October 8.

Where ZIP 57706 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostMay 3
First frostOct 8
2012 zone5a

Was 5a 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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Ellsworth Afb, 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 Ellsworth Afb, SD

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 3median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 17only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 8median — 10% chance by Sep 26
Growing season157 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 22 and returns around October 18.

From the NOAA station Rapid City WFO, SD — 8 miles away, elevation 3,379 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 57706

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 12
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
TomatoesTransplant · May 10 – May 24
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 17 – May 31
BeansSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 13 – Aug 27
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 24 – Oct 29
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 3) and first fall frost (Oct 8) 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 57706 came on Mar 12 — 23 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 4).

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 5b in South Dakota

458 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in South Dakota, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. 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 206

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 146

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 Ellsworth Afb, SD.

Soil in Ellsworth Afb, SD

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 57706 is Nunn — clay loam, well drained.

TextureClay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Nunn clay loam, 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 57706; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Ellsworth Afb, SD

Summer high84 °Faverage high, July
Winter low16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days23days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights144nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,664base 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)
Precipitation19.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 37 °F, low 16 °F 37°16° JanFebruary: average high 38 °F, low 18 °F 38°18° FebMarch: average high 47 °F, low 26 °F 47°26° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 34 °F 55°34° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 45 °F 65°45° MayJune: average high 76 °F, low 55 °F 76°55° JunJuly: average high 84 °F, low 62 °F 84°62° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 60 °F 83°60° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 51 °F 74°51° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 38 °F 59°38° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 27 °F 47°27° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 19 °F 38°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.37 in precipitation 0.4 JanFebruary: 0.59 in precipitation 0.6 FebMarch: 0.98 in precipitation 1.0 MarApril: 2.16 in precipitation 2.2 AprMay: 3.98 in precipitation 4.0 MayJune: 3.32 in precipitation 3.3 JunJuly: 2.42 in precipitation 2.4 JulAugust: 1.64 in precipitation 1.6 AugSeptember: 1.34 in precipitation 1.3 SepOctober: 1.58 in precipitation 1.6 OctNovember: 0.49 in precipitation 0.5 NovDecember: 0.42 in precipitation 0.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Rapid City WFO, SD (8 mi away); precipitation: Box Elder 8.0 Nne, SD (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

577015b
Rapid City, SD · 6 mi
577195a
Box Elder, SD · 7 mi
577695a
Piedmont, SD · 11 mi
577035a
Rapid City, SD · 11 mi
577095b
Rapid City, SD · 12 mi
577185a
Black Hawk, SD · 13 mi
577615a
New Underwood, SD · 16 mi
577855a
Sturgis, SD · 17 mi

South Dakota planting zones →

Questions about 57706

What planting zone is ZIP code 57706?

ZIP code 57706 (Ellsworth Afb, SD) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in Ellsworth Afb, SD?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 57706 is May 3; after May 17 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Rapid City WFO station.

When is the first frost in Ellsworth Afb, SD?

The median first fall frost near 57706 is October 8, giving a median frost-free growing season of 157 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 57706?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 8 – Mar 22 and set transplants outside around May 10 – May 24, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 57706 get?

About 19.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Box Elder 8.0 Nne station).

How hot do summers get in Ellsworth Afb, SD?

The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 23 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 57706 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Nunn at the center of ZIP 57706: clay loam, well drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Ellsworth Afb, SD in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 57706 came on Mar 12 in 2026, 23 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 4), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Ellsworth Afb, SD?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 57706 is 15 h 30 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 57706 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 57706 in zone 5a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.