When to plant in Dickinson, ND
USDA Zone 4bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Dickinson, North Dakota — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Zone 4b is cold — in Dickinson, most perennials must be fully hardy, and your frost dates set a tight window for tender annual vegetables.
The average first fall frost in Dickinson is now 5 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
DICKINSON · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Dickinson’s own odds, recorded at DICKINSON.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Jun 17 | May 31 | May 19 | Aug 27 | Sep 12 | Sep 24 |
| 32°F | Jun 1 | May 20 | May 8 | Sep 8 | Sep 22 | Oct 3 |
| 28°F | May 24 | May 10 | Apr 27 | Sep 16 | Sep 29 | Oct 13 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Dickinson, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 27 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Dickinson planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Dickinson, ND?
Dickinson's average last spring frost falls near May 20 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in Dickinson, ND?
The first fall frost in Dickinson typically arrives around September 22 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Dickinson in?
Dickinson is in USDA hardiness zone 4b. In zone 4b, winters are cold — pick cold-hardy varieties and protect tender crops.
How long is the growing season in Dickinson?
There are roughly 125 frost-free days in Dickinson (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around May 20 to the first fall frost near September 22.
When should I plant tomatoes in Dickinson?
In Dickinson, start tomato seeds indoors around March 25–April 8, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 27 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Dickinson
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Dickinson’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at DICKINSON, 1 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Dickinson, ND — Frost Dates & Zone 4b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00322188. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/north-dakota/dickinson.