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

Planting zone for 58318 — Bottineau, ND

ZIP code 58318 (Bottineau, Bottineau County) is in USDA zone 3b: the coldest winter night averages −35 to −30 °F. The median last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost September 25.

Where ZIP 58318 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.

Zone3b−35 to −30 °F
Coldest night−37.2 to −34.4 °C
Last frostMay 15
First frostSep 25
2012 zone3b

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 3b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Bottineau, 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 Bottineau, ND

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 28only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 25median — 10% chance by Sep 13
Growing season133 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 6 and returns around October 2.

From the NOAA station Bottineau, ND — 4 miles away, elevation 1,621 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 58318

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 · Jul 31 – Aug 14
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 11 – Oct 16
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 15) and first fall frost (Sep 25) 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 58318 came on May 3 — 5 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 28).

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 3b in North Dakota

249 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in North Dakota, and rated by the USDA to survive −35 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 3b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 20

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 42

American black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °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 °Fblack hawthorn15 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −47 °Fbog birch20 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 91

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine sweetvetch2 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican vetch1.3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican water horehound1.8 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 88

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 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBicknell's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 3

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °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 Bottineau, ND.

Soil in Bottineau, ND

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 58318 is Bottineau — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter95%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Bottineau-Buse 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 58318; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bottineau, ND

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low−4 °Faverage low, January
Hot days6days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights196nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,911base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day16 h 11 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 15 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation19.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall50 inper year; 131 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 15 °F, low -4 °F 15°−4° JanFebruary: average high 20 °F, low 0 °F 20°0° FebMarch: average high 33 °F, low 14 °F 33°14° MarApril: average high 51 °F, low 28 °F 51°28° AprMay: average high 65 °F, low 41 °F 65°41° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 52 °F 74°52° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 56 °F 79°56° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 54 °F 79°54° AugSeptember: average high 69 °F, low 44 °F 69°44° SepOctober: average high 53 °F, low 30 °F 53°30° OctNovember: average high 34 °F, low 16 °F 34°16° NovDecember: average high 20 °F, low 3 °F 20°3° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.53 in precipitation, 9.1 in snowfall 0.5❄9 JanFebruary: 0.53 in precipitation, 6.9 in snowfall 0.5❄7 FebMarch: 0.76 in precipitation, 7.3 in snowfall 0.8❄7 MarApril: 1.07 in precipitation, 4 in snowfall 1.1❄4 AprMay: 2.58 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 2.6❄1 MayJune: 3.87 in precipitation 3.9 JunJuly: 2.75 in precipitation 2.8 JulAugust: 2.61 in precipitation 2.6 AugSeptember: 1.52 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.5 SepOctober: 1.50 in precipitation, 4.1 in snowfall 1.5❄4 OctNovember: 0.78 in precipitation, 8.2 in snowfall 0.8❄8 NovDecember: 0.70 in precipitation, 9 in snowfall 0.7❄9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Bottineau, ND (4 mi away); precipitation: Bottineau, ND (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 3b.

583293b
Dunseith, ND · 15 mi
587833b
Souris, ND · 17 mi
587483b
Kramer, ND · 17 mi
583843b
Willow City, ND · 19 mi
587133b
Bantry, ND · 25 mi
583163b
Belcourt, ND · 27 mi
583693b
Saint John, ND · 27 mi
583663b
Rolette, ND · 28 mi

North Dakota planting zones →

Questions about 58318

What planting zone is ZIP code 58318?

ZIP code 58318 (Bottineau, ND) is in USDA hardiness zone 3b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −35 to −30 °F (−37.2 to −34.4 °C).

When is the last frost in Bottineau, ND?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 58318 is May 15; after May 28 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bottineau station.

When is the first frost in Bottineau, ND?

The median first fall frost near 58318 is September 25, giving a median frost-free growing season of 133 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 58318?

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 58318 get?

About 19.2 inches of precipitation a year and 50 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bottineau station).

How hot do summers get in Bottineau, ND?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 6 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 58318 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Bottineau at the center of ZIP 58318: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Bottineau, ND in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 58318 came on May 3 in 2026, 5 days later than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 28), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Bottineau, ND?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 58318 is 16 h 11 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).