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

Planting zone for 57794 — Wounded Knee, SD

ZIP code 57794 (Wounded Knee, Oglala Lakota County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 16 and the first fall frost September 27.

Where ZIP 57794 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 16
First frostSep 27
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 Wounded Knee, 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 Wounded Knee, SD

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 16median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 27median — 10% chance by Sep 13
Growing season132 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 5 and returns around October 4.

From the NOAA station Pine Ridge Airport, SD — 9 miles away, elevation 3,278 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 57794

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 25
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
TomatoesTransplant · May 23 – Jun 6
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 30 – Jun 13
BeansSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 2 – Aug 16
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 13 – Oct 18
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 16) and first fall frost (Sep 27) 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 57794 came on Mar 13 — 21 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 Wounded Knee, SD.

Soil in Wounded Knee, SD

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 57794 is Oglala — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Oglala-Canyon loams, 9 to 25 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 57794; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Wounded Knee, SD

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low12 °Faverage low, January
Hot days46days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights181nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,748base 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)
Precipitation16.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 37 °F, low 12 °F 37°12° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 14 °F 40°14° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 24 °F 51°24° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 32 °F 59°32° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 42 °F 69°42° MayJune: average high 81 °F, low 53 °F 81°53° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 60 °F 89°60° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 57 °F 88°57° AugSeptember: average high 79 °F, low 47 °F 79°47° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 33 °F 63°33° OctNovember: average high 49 °F, low 21 °F 49°21° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 13 °F 38°13° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.33 in precipitation 0.3 JanFebruary: 0.50 in precipitation 0.5 FebMarch: 0.81 in precipitation 0.8 MarApril: 2.08 in precipitation 2.1 AprMay: 2.62 in precipitation 2.6 MayJune: 3.01 in precipitation 3.0 JunJuly: 2.12 in precipitation 2.1 JulAugust: 1.48 in precipitation 1.5 AugSeptember: 1.45 in precipitation 1.4 SepOctober: 1.25 in precipitation 1.3 OctNovember: 0.60 in precipitation 0.6 NovDecember: 0.37 in precipitation 0.4 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 5a.

577565a
Manderson, SD · 9 mi
577165a
Batesland, SD · 11 mi
693655a
Whiteclay, NE · 12 mi
577705a
Pine Ridge, SD · 13 mi
577645a
Oglala, SD · 21 mi
577525a
Kyle, SD · 24 mi
577725a
Porcupine, SD · 25 mi
693605a
Rushville, NE · 27 mi

South Dakota planting zones →

Questions about 57794

What planting zone is ZIP code 57794?

ZIP code 57794 (Wounded Knee, 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 Wounded Knee, SD?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 57794 is May 16; after May 31 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pine Ridge Airport station.

When is the first frost in Wounded Knee, SD?

The median first fall frost near 57794 is September 27, giving a median frost-free growing season of 132 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 57794?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 21 – Apr 4 and set transplants outside around May 23 – Jun 6, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 57794 get?

About 16.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pine Ridge Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Wounded Knee, SD?

The average high peaks at 89 °F in July, with about 46 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 57794 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Oglala at the center of ZIP 57794: loam, well drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Wounded Knee, SD in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 57794 came on Mar 13 in 2026, 21 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 3), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Wounded Knee, SD?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 57794 is 15 h 23 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 57794 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 57794 in zone 4b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.