Free planting calendar
South Dakota planting calendar for 2026.
In South Dakota, the typical last spring frost is around May 9 and the first fall frost is around September 28, giving about 142 frost-free days. The state spans USDA hardiness zones 4a to 5a. Here is what to sow each month, plus how to dial it to your exact ZIP code.
South Dakota at a glance
| Typical last spring frost | May 9 |
| Typical first fall frost | September 28 |
| Growing season | about 142 days |
| USDA hardiness zones | 4a, 4b, 5a |
| Population centers | Sioux Falls, Watertown, Mitchell, Aberdeen |
Typical statewide averages from NOAA frost normals. Your town can differ by a week or two, so check your ZIP code for exact dates.
What to plant in South Dakota, month by month
Sow windows below are counted from South Dakota’s typical frost dates. Tender crops wait until after the last frost; hardy crops can start earlier.
| Month | What to sow |
|---|---|
| January | Celeriac |
| February | Parsnip · Leek · Celeriac |
| March | Snap Pea · Spinach · Cabbage · Broccoli · Cauliflower · Onion, bulb · Fava Bean (Broad Bean) · English Shelling Pea · Napa Cabbage · Bok Choy · Rapini (Broccoli Raab) · Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli) · Tatsoi · Mizuna · Daikon Radish · Sorrel · Parsnip · Leek · Shallot · Salsify · Celeriac · Fennel, Florence · Onion · Mache (Corn Salad) |
| April | Snap Pea · Potato · Cilantro · Parsley · Lettuce, leaf · Lettuce, romaine · Lettuce, head · Spinach · Arugula · Kale · Swiss Chard · Collards · Mustard Greens · Cabbage · Broccoli · Cauliflower · Kohlrabi · Carrot · Beet · Radish · Turnip · Onion, bulb · Onion, bunching · Fava Bean (Broad Bean) · English Shelling Pea · Garbanzo Bean (Chickpea) · Napa Cabbage · Bok Choy · Rapini (Broccoli Raab) · Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli) · Tatsoi · Mizuna · Daikon Radish · Endive · Escarole · Sorrel · Watercress · Celery · Shallot · Salsify · Fennel, Florence · Strawberry, day-neutral · Chives · Chervil · Blueberry · Raspberry, red · Blackberry · Strawberry, June-bearing · Gooseberry · Currant, black · Haskap (Honeyberry) · Elderberry · Asparagus · Rhubarb · Horseradish · Sunchoke (Jerusalem Artichoke) · Artichoke, globe · Lettuce · Onion · Calendula (Pot Marigold) · Chamomile, German · Mache (Corn Salad) · Cress, garden · Currant, red |
| May | Tomato, slicing · Tomato, cherry · Tomato, paste · Pepper, bell · Pepper, hot · Eggplant · Cucumber, slicing · Cucumber, pickling · Squash, summer · Watermelon · Cantaloupe · Okra · Sweet Corn · Bush Bean · Pole Bean · Potato · Basil · Cilantro · Parsley · Lettuce, leaf · Lettuce, romaine · Lettuce, head · Arugula · Swiss Chard · Collards · Mustard Greens · Kohlrabi · Carrot · Beet · Radish · Turnip · Onion, bunching · Lima Bean (Bush) · Edamame (Soybean) · Southern Pea (Black-Eyed Pea) · Garbanzo Bean (Chickpea) · Amaranth Leaf · New Zealand Spinach · Celery · Fennel, Florence · Tomatillo · Ground Cherry · Honeydew Melon · Spaghetti Squash · Acorn Squash · Luffa Gourd · Sunflower, confection · Strawberry, day-neutral · Pepper, banana · Pepper, poblano · Pepper, serrano · Pepper, cayenne · Pepper, shishito · Pepper, habanero · Dill · Oregano · Thyme · Rosemary · Sage · Mint · Chives · Tarragon · Marjoram · Chervil · Lemon Balm · Summer Savory · Blueberry · Raspberry, red · Blackberry · Strawberry, June-bearing · Gooseberry · Currant, black · Haskap (Honeyberry) · Elderberry · Asparagus · Rhubarb · Horseradish · Sunchoke (Jerusalem Artichoke) · Artichoke, globe · Peanut · Lavender · Lemongrass · Bay Laurel · Borage · Stevia · Catmint (Catnip) · Shiso (Perilla) · Scarlet Runner Bean · Popcorn · Cucamelon (Mouse Melon) · Malabar Spinach · Tomato · Pepper, sweet · Cucumber · Bean · Lettuce · Nasturtium · Calendula (Pot Marigold) · Chamomile, German · Mache (Corn Salad) · Cress, garden · Currant, red |
| June | Tomato, slicing · Tomato, cherry · Tomato, paste · Pepper, bell · Pepper, hot · Eggplant · Cucumber, slicing · Cucumber, pickling · Squash, summer · Squash, winter · Pumpkin · Watermelon · Cantaloupe · Okra · Sweet Corn · Bush Bean · Pole Bean · Sweet Potato · Basil · Parsley · Kale · Swiss Chard · Collards · Cabbage · Broccoli · Cauliflower · Lima Bean (Bush) · Edamame (Soybean) · Southern Pea (Black-Eyed Pea) · Brussels Sprouts · Napa Cabbage · Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli) · Radicchio · Celery · Parsnip · Leek · Salsify · Celeriac · Rutabaga · Fennel, Florence · Tomatillo · Ground Cherry · Honeydew Melon · Spaghetti Squash · Acorn Squash · Luffa Gourd · Sunflower, confection · Pepper, banana · Pepper, poblano · Pepper, serrano · Pepper, cayenne · Pepper, shishito · Pepper, habanero · Dill · Oregano · Thyme · Rosemary · Sage · Mint · Chives · Tarragon · Marjoram · Lemon Balm · Summer Savory · Blueberry · Elderberry · Horseradish · Ginger · Turmeric · Peanut · Lavender · Lemongrass · Bay Laurel · Borage · Stevia · Catmint (Catnip) · Shiso (Perilla) · Scarlet Runner Bean · Popcorn · Cucamelon (Mouse Melon) · Malabar Spinach · Tomato · Pepper, sweet · Cucumber · Bean · Nasturtium · Chamomile, German |
| July | Tomato, slicing · Tomato, cherry · Tomato, paste · Pepper, bell · Pepper, hot · Eggplant · Cucumber, slicing · Cucumber, pickling · Squash, summer · Squash, winter · Pumpkin · Watermelon · Cantaloupe · Okra · Sweet Corn · Bush Bean · Pole Bean · Sweet Potato · Basil · Cilantro · Parsley · Lettuce, leaf · Lettuce, romaine · Lettuce, head · Spinach · Arugula · Kale · Swiss Chard · Collards · Mustard Greens · Cabbage · Broccoli · Cauliflower · Kohlrabi · Carrot · Beet · Radish · Turnip · Onion, bunching · Lima Bean (Bush) · Edamame (Soybean) · Southern Pea (Black-Eyed Pea) · English Shelling Pea · Brussels Sprouts · Napa Cabbage · Bok Choy · Rapini (Broccoli Raab) · Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli) · Tatsoi · Mizuna · Daikon Radish · Endive · Escarole · Radicchio · Sorrel · Watercress · Celery · Parsnip · Leek · Salsify · Celeriac · Rutabaga · Fennel, Florence · Tomatillo · Ground Cherry · Honeydew Melon · Spaghetti Squash · Acorn Squash · Luffa Gourd · Sunflower, confection · Pepper, banana · Pepper, poblano · Pepper, serrano · Pepper, cayenne · Pepper, shishito · Pepper, habanero · Dill · Mint · Tarragon · Marjoram · Lemon Balm · Summer Savory · Ginger · Turmeric · Lemongrass · Bay Laurel · Borage · Catmint (Catnip) · Shiso (Perilla) · Scarlet Runner Bean · Popcorn · Cucamelon (Mouse Melon) · Malabar Spinach · Tomato · Pepper, sweet · Cucumber · Bean · Lettuce · Calendula (Pot Marigold) · Mache (Corn Salad) · Cress, garden |
| August | Cucumber, slicing · Cucumber, pickling · Squash, summer · Pumpkin · Sweet Corn · Basil · Cilantro · Parsley · Lettuce, leaf · Lettuce, romaine · Lettuce, head · Spinach · Arugula · Kale · Swiss Chard · Collards · Mustard Greens · Kohlrabi · Beet · Radish · Turnip · Garlic · Onion, bunching · Bok Choy · Rapini (Broccoli Raab) · Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli) · Tatsoi · Mizuna · Daikon Radish · Endive · Escarole · Radicchio · Sorrel · Watercress · Leek · Fennel, Florence · Dill · Marjoram · Chervil · Summer Savory · Cucumber · Lettuce · Calendula (Pot Marigold) · Mache (Corn Salad) · Cress, garden |
| September | Lettuce, leaf · Lettuce, romaine · Spinach · Arugula · Garlic · Shallot · Dill · Chervil · Lettuce · Mache (Corn Salad) · Cress, garden |
| October | Garlic · Shallot |
| November | Nothing sows outdoors — plan beds and order seeds. |
| December | Nothing sows outdoors — plan beds and order seeds. |
Plan your South Dakota garden
A calendar tells you when. A plan tells you how much. Start from what you want to eat and PlotToTable sizes the beds, counts the plants, and dates every sowing for your exact ZIP code.
- Planting calendar by ZIP code — exact frost dates for your town, not just the state average.
- How to plan a vegetable garden — the six-step method.
- Frost dates explained — why these two dates drive everything.
- What to plant now in zone 4 — this month’s full sow list.
South Dakota planting questions
When is the last frost in South Dakota?+
The typical last spring frost across South Dakota is around May 9, and the first fall frost is around September 28, giving roughly a 142-day growing season. Your exact dates depend on your local area and elevation, so enter your ZIP code in the planting calendar tool for numbers tuned to your spot.
What USDA hardiness zone is South Dakota in?+
South Dakota spans USDA hardiness zones 4a to 5a. Most of the state falls in zone 4. Colder and higher-elevation areas trend to the lower zone numbers; milder and coastal areas to the higher ones.
What can I plant right now in South Dakota?+
It depends on the month. Tender crops like tomatoes and peppers go out after the last frost (around May 9); hardy crops like peas, kale, and carrots can be sown weeks earlier. The month-by-month table on this page lists what to sow in South Dakota for each month of the year.
Is this planting calendar free?+
Yes. This South Dakota calendar and the ZIP-code planting tool are free with no account. If you want a full garden plan built around what you want to eat, with plant counts and spacing, PlotToTable's planner is free to start too.