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

Planting zone for 57738 — Fairburn, SD

ZIP code 57738 (Fairburn, Custer County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost September 29.

Where ZIP 57738 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 15
First frostSep 29
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 Fairburn, 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 Fairburn, SD

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 30only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 29median — 10% chance by Sep 13
Growing season133 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 5 and returns around October 6.

From the NOAA station Wind Cave, SD — 19 miles away, elevation 4,154 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 57738

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
TomatoesTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 29 – Jun 12
BeansSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 4 – Aug 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 15 – Oct 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 15) and first fall frost (Sep 29) 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 57738 came on Mar 4 — 30 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 3).

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 Fairburn, SD.

Soil in Fairburn, SD

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 57738 is Fairburn — clay loam, well drained.

TextureClay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.5slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Fairburn clay loam, 9 to 40 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 57738; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Fairburn, SD

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low15 °Faverage low, January
Hot days22days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights172nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,340base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 27 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 55 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation18 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall33 inper year

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 40 °F, low 15 °F 40°15° JanFebruary: average high 41 °F, low 16 °F 41°16° FebMarch: average high 50 °F, low 24 °F 50°24° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 31 °F 58°31° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 41 °F 66°41° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 50 °F 77°50° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 57 °F 85°57° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 55 °F 84°55° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 46 °F 76°46° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 34 °F 61°34° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 23 °F 48°23° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 15 °F 39°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.32 in precipitation, 5.4 in snowfall 0.3❄5 JanFebruary: 0.42 in precipitation, 6.1 in snowfall 0.4❄6 FebMarch: 0.77 in precipitation, 5.7 in snowfall 0.8❄6 MarApril: 2.03 in precipitation, 5.7 in snowfall 2.0❄6 AprMay: 3.58 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 3.6❄1 MayJune: 3.01 in precipitation 3.0 JunJuly: 2.39 in precipitation 2.4 JulAugust: 2.31 in precipitation 2.3 AugSeptember: 1.36 in precipitation 1.4 SepOctober: 1.16 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 1.2❄1 OctNovember: 0.43 in precipitation, 4 in snowfall 0.4❄4 NovDecember: 0.24 in precipitation, 4.2 in snowfall 0.2❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Wind Cave, SD (19 mi away); precipitation: Hermosa 3 Ssw, SD (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

577445a
Hermosa, SD · 10 mi
577515a
Keystone, SD · 18 mi
577225a
Buffalo Gap, SD · 19 mi
577735b
Pringle, SD · 23 mi
577665a
Oral, SD · 23 mi
577035a
Rapid City, SD · 23 mi
577305a
Custer, SD · 25 mi
577255a
Caputa, SD · 25 mi

South Dakota planting zones →

Questions about 57738

What planting zone is ZIP code 57738?

ZIP code 57738 (Fairburn, 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 Fairburn, SD?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 57738 is May 15; after May 30 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wind Cave station.

When is the first frost in Fairburn, SD?

The median first fall frost near 57738 is September 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 133 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 57738?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 20 – Apr 3 and set transplants outside around May 22 – Jun 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 57738 get?

About 18 inches of precipitation a year and 33 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hermosa 3 Ssw station).

How hot do summers get in Fairburn, SD?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 22 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 57738 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Fairburn at the center of ZIP 57738: clay loam, well drained, pH about 7.5 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Fairburn, SD in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 57738 came on Mar 4 in 2026, 30 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 3), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Fairburn, SD?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 57738 is 15 h 27 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).