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

Planting zone for 58033 — Fort Ransom, ND

ZIP code 58033 (Fort Ransom, Ransom County) is in USDA zone 4a: the coldest winter night averages −30 to −25 °F. The median last spring frost is May 12 and the first fall frost September 27.

Where ZIP 58033 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.

Zone4a−30 to −25 °F
Coldest night−34.4 to −31.7 °C
Last frostMay 12
First frostSep 27
2012 zone4a

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 4a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Fort Ransom, ND…

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 Fort Ransom, ND

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 12median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 27median — 10% chance by Sep 14
Growing season136 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 3 and returns around October 4.

From the NOAA station Lisbon, ND — 11 miles away, elevation 1,148 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 58033

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
TomatoesTransplant · May 19 – Jun 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 26 – Jun 9
BeansSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
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 12) 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 58033 came on Apr 21 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 20).

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 4a in North Dakota

342 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in North Dakota, and rated by the USDA to survive −30 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 4a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 21

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 °Fbigtooth aspen65 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −43 °Fblack ash65 ft · blooms early spring · high shade tolerance · to −47 °Fblack locust60 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −37 °F

Shrubs 56

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °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 °Fbig sagebrush4 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −43 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 146

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine sweetvetch2 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 110

alkali cordgrass3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fanalogue sedge1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 4

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 °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 Fort Ransom, ND.

Soil in Fort Ransom, ND

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 58033 is Sioux — gravelly sandy loam, excessively drained.

TextureGravelly sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Sioux-Renshaw complex, 0 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 58033; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Fort Ransom, ND

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low0 °Faverage low, January
Hot days14days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights182nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,230base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 49 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 35 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation22.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall47 inper year

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 19 °F, low 0 °F 19°0° JanFebruary: average high 24 °F, low 3 °F 24°3° FebMarch: average high 37 °F, low 16 °F 37°16° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 29 °F 54°29° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 43 °F 67°43° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 54 °F 77°54° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 58 °F 82°58° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 55 °F 81°55° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 46 °F 72°46° SepOctober: average high 56 °F, low 32 °F 56°32° OctNovember: average high 39 °F, low 19 °F 39°19° NovDecember: average high 25 °F, low 7 °F 25°7° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.71 in precipitation, 9.7 in snowfall 0.7❄10 JanFebruary: 0.89 in precipitation, 7.1 in snowfall 0.9❄7 FebMarch: 0.96 in precipitation, 7.8 in snowfall 1.0❄8 MarApril: 1.52 in precipitation, 4.5 in snowfall 1.5❄5 AprMay: 3.11 in precipitation 3.1 MayJune: 3.40 in precipitation 3.4 JunJuly: 2.90 in precipitation 2.9 JulAugust: 2.65 in precipitation 2.6 AugSeptember: 2.40 in precipitation 2.4 SepOctober: 2.20 in precipitation, 1.5 in snowfall 2.2❄2 OctNovember: 0.78 in precipitation, 7.4 in snowfall 0.8❄7 NovDecember: 0.75 in precipitation, 8.7 in snowfall 0.8❄9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lisbon, ND (11 mi away); precipitation: Lisbon, ND (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 4a.

584904a
Verona, ND · 8 mi
580544a
Lisbon, ND · 12 mi
580694a
Stirum, ND · 14 mi
580624a
Nome, ND · 15 mi
580494a
Kathryn, ND · 17 mi
580274a
Enderlin, ND · 19 mi
584614a
Litchville, ND · 20 mi
580404a
Gwinner, ND · 20 mi

North Dakota planting zones →

Questions about 58033

What planting zone is ZIP code 58033?

ZIP code 58033 (Fort Ransom, ND) is in USDA hardiness zone 4a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −30 to −25 °F (−34.4 to −31.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Fort Ransom, ND?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 58033 is May 12; after May 23 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lisbon station.

When is the first frost in Fort Ransom, ND?

The median first fall frost near 58033 is September 27, giving a median frost-free growing season of 136 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 58033?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 17 – Mar 31 and set transplants outside around May 19 – Jun 2, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 58033 get?

About 22.3 inches of precipitation a year and 47 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lisbon station).

How hot do summers get in Fort Ransom, ND?

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 58033 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Sioux at the center of ZIP 58033: gravelly sandy loam, excessively drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Fort Ransom, ND in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 58033 came on Apr 21 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 20), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Fort Ransom, ND?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 58033 is 15 h 49 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).