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

Planting zone for 58652 — Richardton, ND

ZIP code 58652 (Richardton, Stark County) is in USDA zone 4a: the coldest winter night averages −30 to −25 °F. The median last spring frost is May 9 and the first fall frost October 1.

Where ZIP 58652 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 9
First frostOct 1
2012 zone4b

Was 4b on the 2012 map — half a zone colder now. 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 Richardton, 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 Richardton, ND

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 1median — 10% chance by Sep 18
Growing season145 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Richardton Abbey, ND — 4 miles away, elevation 2,471 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 58652

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 18
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
TomatoesTransplant · May 16 – May 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 23 – Jun 6
BeansSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 6 – Aug 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 17 – Oct 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 9) and first fall frost (Oct 1) 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 58652 came on Apr 17 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 19).

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 Richardton, ND.

Soil in Richardton, ND

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 58652 is Dogtooth — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.8neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Dogtooth-Janesburg-Cabba complex, 6 to 35 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 58652; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Richardton, ND

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low7 °Faverage low, January
Hot days17days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights173nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,301base 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)
Precipitation16.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall33 inper year

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 24 °F, low 7 °F 24°7° JanFebruary: average high 27 °F, low 10 °F 27°10° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 20 °F 40°20° MarApril: average high 54 °F, low 31 °F 54°31° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 43 °F 66°43° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 53 °F 75°53° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 58 °F 83°58° JulAugust: average high 82 °F, low 57 °F 82°57° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 48 °F 72°48° SepOctober: average high 55 °F, low 34 °F 55°34° OctNovember: average high 39 °F, low 22 °F 39°22° NovDecember: average high 28 °F, low 11 °F 28°11° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.37 in precipitation, 4.5 in snowfall 0.4❄5 JanFebruary: 0.38 in precipitation, 4.3 in snowfall 0.4❄4 FebMarch: 0.67 in precipitation, 7.3 in snowfall 0.7❄7 MarApril: 1.30 in precipitation, 3.2 in snowfall 1.3❄3 AprMay: 2.44 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 2.4❄1 MayJune: 3.10 in precipitation 3.1 JunJuly: 2.18 in precipitation 2.2 JulAugust: 1.74 in precipitation 1.7 AugSeptember: 1.73 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 1.7 SepOctober: 1.46 in precipitation, 2.6 in snowfall 1.5❄3 OctNovember: 0.50 in precipitation, 4.9 in snowfall 0.5❄5 NovDecember: 0.46 in precipitation, 5.4 in snowfall 0.5❄5 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

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

586384a
Hebron, ND · 10 mi
586564a
Taylor, ND · 11 mi
586304a
Gladstone, ND · 16 mi
586444a
Marshall, ND · 17 mi
586414b
Lefor, ND · 20 mi
586314a
Glen Ullin, ND · 20 mi
586254a
Dodge, ND · 27 mi
585804a
Zap, ND · 29 mi

North Dakota planting zones →

Questions about 58652

What planting zone is ZIP code 58652?

ZIP code 58652 (Richardton, 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 Richardton, ND?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 58652 is May 9; after May 23 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Richardton Abbey station.

When is the first frost in Richardton, ND?

The median first fall frost near 58652 is October 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 145 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 58652?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 14 – Mar 28 and set transplants outside around May 16 – May 30, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 58652 get?

About 16.3 inches of precipitation a year and 33 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Richardton Abbey station).

How hot do summers get in Richardton, ND?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 17 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 58652 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Dogtooth at the center of ZIP 58652: loam, well drained, pH about 6.8 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Richardton, ND in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 58652 came on Apr 17 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 19), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Richardton, ND?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 58652 is 15 h 53 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 58652 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 58652 in zone 4b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 4a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.