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

Planting zone for 58078 — West Fargo, ND

ZIP code 58078 (West Fargo, Cass County) is in USDA zone 4a: the coldest winter night averages −30 to −25 °F. The median last spring frost is May 10 and the first fall frost September 30.

Where ZIP 58078 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 10
First frostSep 30
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 West Fargo, 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 West Fargo, ND

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 10median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 30median — 10% chance by Sep 18
Growing season143 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 30 and returns around October 10.

From the NOAA station Fargo Hector Intl Airport, ND — 7 miles away, elevation 899 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 58078

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 19 – May 3
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 19 – May 3
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
TomatoesTransplant · May 17 – May 31
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 24 – Jun 7
BeansSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 5 – Aug 19
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 16 – Oct 21
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 10) and first fall frost (Sep 30) 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 58078 came on Apr 23 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 21).

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 West Fargo, ND.

Soil in West Fargo, ND

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 58078 is Fargo — silty clay, poorly drained.

TextureSilty clayholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter5%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Fargo silty clay, 0 to 1 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 58078; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in West Fargo, ND

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low0 °Faverage low, January
Hot days11days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights172nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,416base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 53 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 31 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation25 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 18 °F, low 0 °F 18°0° JanFebruary: average high 23 °F, low 4 °F 23°4° FebMarch: average high 36 °F, low 18 °F 36°18° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 32 °F 54°32° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 44 °F 69°44° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 56 °F 78°56° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 57 °F 81°57° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 48 °F 72°48° SepOctober: average high 56 °F, low 35 °F 56°35° OctNovember: average high 38 °F, low 21 °F 38°21° NovDecember: average high 24 °F, low 8 °F 24°8° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 0.65 in precipitation 0.7 JanFebruary: 0.66 in precipitation 0.7 FebMarch: 1.08 in precipitation 1.1 MarApril: 1.71 in precipitation 1.7 AprMay: 3.21 in precipitation 3.2 MayJune: 4.45 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 3.67 in precipitation 3.7 JulAugust: 2.78 in precipitation 2.8 AugSeptember: 2.73 in precipitation 2.7 SepOctober: 2.28 in precipitation 2.3 OctNovember: 0.86 in precipitation 0.9 NovDecember: 0.89 in precipitation 0.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Fargo Hector Intl Airport, ND (7 mi away); precipitation: West Fargo 3.8 Sse, ND (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 4a.

581034a
Fargo, ND · 6 mi
581024a
Fargo, ND · 7 mi
581094a
Fargo, ND · 7 mi
581054a
Fargo, ND · 7 mi
581044a
Fargo, ND · 7 mi
580424a
Harwood, ND · 7 mi
581064a
Fargo, ND · 7 mi
581074a
Fargo, ND · 7 mi

North Dakota planting zones →

Questions about 58078

What planting zone is ZIP code 58078?

ZIP code 58078 (West Fargo, 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 West Fargo, ND?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 58078 is May 10; after May 23 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Fargo Hector Intl Airport station.

When is the first frost in West Fargo, ND?

The median first fall frost near 58078 is September 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 143 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 58078?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 15 – Mar 29 and set transplants outside around May 17 – May 31, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 58078 get?

About 25 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, West Fargo 3.8 Sse station).

How hot do summers get in West Fargo, ND?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 11 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 58078 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Fargo at the center of ZIP 58078: silty clay, poorly drained, pH about 7.2 (neutral).

Did spring come early in West Fargo, ND in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 58078 came on Apr 23 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 21), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in West Fargo, ND?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 58078 is 15 h 53 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).