Sioux Falls, South Dakota planting calendar and frost dates
Sioux Falls is in USDA hardiness zone 5a. The last spring frost typically comes around May 1 and the first fall frost around October 6, giving about 157 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 5a
- Typical last frost
- May 1
- Typical first frost
- October 6
- Frost-free season
- 157 days
Frost dates in Sioux Falls
Last spring frost
- April 18Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- May 1Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 14Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- September 23Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 6Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- October 20Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 157 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around April 22 and returns around October 17.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Sioux Falls, 3 miles NNW of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Sioux Falls
January
Start indoors: onions
February
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
May
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, celery, chives, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, green onions, st. augustinegrass, zoysiagrass
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
August
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tulips, turnips
September
Plant for fall: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, saffron, spinach, tulips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Sioux Falls
All 7 of Sioux Falls's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Sioux Falls, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 5a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 57103 | 5a | Sioux Falls, 3 mi NNW | May 1 | Oct 6 |
| 57104 | 5a | Sioux Falls, 3 mi NNW | May 1 | Oct 6 |
| 57105 | 5a | Sioux Falls, 3 mi NNW | May 1 | Oct 6 |
| 57106 | 5a | Sioux Falls, 3 mi NNW | May 1 | Oct 6 |
| 57107 | 5a | Sioux Falls, 3 mi NNW | May 1 | Oct 6 |
| 57108 | 5a | Sioux Falls, 3 mi NNW | May 1 | Oct 6 |
| 57110 | 5a | Sioux Falls, 3 mi NNW | May 1 | Oct 6 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Sioux Falls
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 6 to 20 | Apr 24 to May 8 | Jul 7 to Aug 11 |
| Cilantro | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | May 1 to 8 | — |
| Basil | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | May 18 to 25 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 23 to 30 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Oct 6 to 20 |
| Onions | Jan 9 to Feb 20 | Apr 3 to 17 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 20 to May 4 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 20 to May 4 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 2 to 30 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Carrots | — | Apr 10 to May 1 | Jul 14 to Aug 4 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 31 to Jun 7 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 13 to 27 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | May 1 to 15 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 20 to May 4 | May 18 to Jun 1 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 13 to Mar 6 | Apr 3 to 17 | Jul 21 to Aug 18 |
| Peas | — | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Jul 14 to 28 |
| Spinach | Mar 20 to 27 | Apr 24 to May 8 | Jul 28 to Sep 1 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 1 to 22 | — |
| Zinnias | May 19 to 26 | Jun 16 to 30 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Aug 25 to Oct 20 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Aug 25 to Oct 6 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Aug 25 to Sep 8 |
Nearby cities
- Sioux City, IA zone 5a, last frost Apr 29
- Omaha, NE zone 6a, last frost Apr 18
- Council Bluffs, IA zone 5b, last frost Apr 18
- Bellevue, NE zone 5b, last frost Apr 18
- Eden Prairie, MN zone 5a, last frost Apr 23
- Ames, IA zone 5b, last frost Apr 26
Planting in South DakotaAbout zone 5aPrintable calendar for Sioux Falls
Questions
When is the last frost in Sioux Falls?
Around May 1 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Sioux Falls. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 14.
What planting zone is Sioux Falls in?
USDA hardiness zone 5a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Sioux Falls?
Start seeds indoors March 23 to April 6 and set plants out May 18 to June 1.
When is the first frost in Sioux Falls?
Around October 6 in a typical year, and before September 23 about 1 year in 10.