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

Planting zone for 58853 — Trenton, ND

ZIP code 58853 (Trenton, Williams County) is in USDA zone 4a: the coldest winter night averages −30 to −25 °F. The median last spring frost is May 13 and the first fall frost September 26.

Where ZIP 58853 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 13
First frostSep 26
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 Trenton, 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 Trenton, ND

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 13median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 25only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 26median — 10% chance by Sep 14
Growing season135 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Williston Exp Farm, ND — 6 miles away, elevation 2,106 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 58853

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 22
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 22 – May 6
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 22 – May 6
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
TomatoesTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 27 – Jun 10
BeansSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 20 – Jun 3
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 1 – Aug 15
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 12 – Oct 17
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 13) and first fall frost (Sep 26) 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 58853 came on Apr 20 — about the same time as 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 Trenton, ND.

Soil in Trenton, ND

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 58853 is Mckeen — loam, poorly drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.6slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Mckeen loam, 0 to 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded.

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 58853; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Trenton, ND

Summer high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low4 °Faverage low, January
Hot days27days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights177nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,369base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day16 h 03 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 21 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation14.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall39 inper year; 91 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 24 °F, low 4 °F 24°4° JanFebruary: average high 29 °F, low 8 °F 29°8° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 19 °F 42°19° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 31 °F 58°31° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 42 °F 69°42° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 51 °F 77°51° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 57 °F 85°57° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 55 °F 85°55° AugSeptember: average high 75 °F, low 46 °F 75°46° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 33 °F 58°33° OctNovember: average high 40 °F, low 20 °F 40°20° NovDecember: average high 27 °F, low 9 °F 27°9° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 0.40 in precipitation, 7.9 in snowfall 0.4❄8 JanFebruary: 0.34 in precipitation, 6.3 in snowfall 0.3❄6 FebMarch: 0.49 in precipitation, 4.4 in snowfall 0.5❄4 MarApril: 1.09 in precipitation, 2.9 in snowfall 1.1❄3 AprMay: 2.14 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 2.1❄1 MayJune: 2.83 in precipitation 2.8 JunJuly: 2.52 in precipitation 2.5 JulAugust: 1.74 in precipitation 1.7 AugSeptember: 1.37 in precipitation 1.4 SepOctober: 0.95 in precipitation, 2.6 in snowfall 0.9❄3 OctNovember: 0.52 in precipitation, 5.3 in snowfall 0.5❄5 NovDecember: 0.37 in precipitation, 9 in snowfall 0.4❄9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Williston Exp Farm, ND (6 mi away); precipitation: Williston Exp Farm, ND (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 4a.

588034a
Williston, ND · 8 mi
588024a
Williston, ND · 9 mi
588014a
Williston, ND · 12 mi
588314a
Alexander, ND · 15 mi
588434a
Epping, ND · 20 mi
588384a
Cartwright, ND · 22 mi
592124a
Bainville, MT · 22 mi
592214a
Fairview, MT · 23 mi

North Dakota planting zones →

Questions about 58853

What planting zone is ZIP code 58853?

ZIP code 58853 (Trenton, 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 Trenton, ND?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 58853 is May 13; after May 25 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Williston Exp Farm station.

When is the first frost in Trenton, ND?

The median first fall frost near 58853 is September 26, giving a median frost-free growing season of 135 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 58853?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 18 – Apr 1 and set transplants outside around May 20 – Jun 3, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 58853 get?

About 14.8 inches of precipitation a year and 39 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Williston Exp Farm station).

How hot do summers get in Trenton, ND?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 27 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 58853 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Mckeen at the center of ZIP 58853: loam, poorly drained, pH about 7.6 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Trenton, ND in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 58853 came on Apr 20 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Apr 18), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Trenton, ND?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 58853 is 16 h 03 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).