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

Planting zone for 58529 — Carson, ND

ZIP code 58529 (Carson, Grant County) is in USDA zone 4a: the coldest winter night averages −30 to −25 °F. The median last spring frost is May 19 and the first fall frost September 25.

Where ZIP 58529 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 19
First frostSep 25
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 Carson, 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 Carson, ND

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 19median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 1only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 25median — 10% chance by Sep 11
Growing season127 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 11 and returns around October 2.

From the NOAA station Carson, ND — 8 miles away, elevation 2,336 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 58529

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 28
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 28 – May 12
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
TomatoesTransplant · May 26 – Jun 9
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 2 – Jun 16
BeansSow outdoors · May 26 – Jun 9
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 26 – Jun 9
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 26 – Jun 9
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 19) 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 58529 came on Apr 8 — 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 18).

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 Carson, ND.

Soil in Carson, ND

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 58529 is Cabba — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
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: Cabba-Chama-Sen silt loams, 9 to 15 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 58529; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Carson, ND

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low4 °Faverage low, January
Hot days14days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights188nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,103base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 48 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 36 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
Snowfall57 inper year

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 24 °F, low 4 °F 24°4° JanFebruary: average high 29 °F, low 7 °F 29°7° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 18 °F 40°18° MarApril: average high 53 °F, low 28 °F 53°28° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 40 °F 66°40° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 51 °F 75°51° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 57 °F 83°57° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 54 °F 81°54° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 45 °F 72°45° SepOctober: average high 56 °F, low 31 °F 56°31° OctNovember: average high 42 °F, low 19 °F 42°19° NovDecember: average high 28 °F, low 8 °F 28°8° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.43 in precipitation, 8.4 in snowfall 0.4❄8 JanFebruary: 0.53 in precipitation, 8.9 in snowfall 0.5❄9 FebMarch: 0.96 in precipitation, 12.4 in snowfall 1.0❄12 MarApril: 1.73 in precipitation, 5.4 in snowfall 1.7❄5 AprMay: 2.80 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 2.8 MayJune: 3.26 in precipitation 3.3 JunJuly: 2.99 in precipitation 3.0 JulAugust: 1.87 in precipitation 1.9 AugSeptember: 1.70 in precipitation 1.7 SepOctober: 1.65 in precipitation, 4.1 in snowfall 1.6❄4 OctNovember: 0.76 in precipitation, 8.3 in snowfall 0.8❄8 NovDecember: 0.50 in precipitation, 8.9 in snowfall 0.5❄9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Carson, ND (8 mi away); precipitation: Elgin, ND (14 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

585644a
Raleigh, ND · 12 mi
585334a
Elgin, ND · 12 mi
585694a
Shields, ND · 18 mi
585354a
Flasher, ND · 20 mi
585624a
New Leipzig, ND · 21 mi
585204a
Almont, ND · 26 mi
576454b
Morristown, SD · 28 mi
576414b
Mc Intosh, SD · 31 mi

North Dakota planting zones →

Questions about 58529

What planting zone is ZIP code 58529?

ZIP code 58529 (Carson, 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 Carson, ND?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 58529 is May 19; after June 1 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Carson station.

When is the first frost in Carson, ND?

The median first fall frost near 58529 is September 25, giving a median frost-free growing season of 127 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 58529?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 24 – Apr 7 and set transplants outside around May 26 – Jun 9, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 58529 get?

About 19.2 inches of precipitation a year and 57 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elgin station).

How hot do summers get in Carson, ND?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 14 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 58529 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Cabba at the center of ZIP 58529: silt loam, well drained, pH about 7.5 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Carson, ND in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 58529 came on Apr 8 in 2026, 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 18), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Carson, ND?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 58529 is 15 h 48 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).