When to plant in Aberdeen, SD
USDA Zone 4aAberdeen, South Dakota frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Zone 4a is cold — in Aberdeen, most perennials must be fully hardy, and your frost dates set a tight window for tender annual vegetables.
Frost probability
ABERDEEN 3 E · 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 Aberdeen’s own odds, recorded at ABERDEEN 3 E.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 31 | May 18 | May 5 | Sep 8 | Sep 21 | Sep 30 |
| 32°F | May 21 | May 8 | Apr 25 | Sep 17 | Sep 29 | Oct 11 |
| 28°F | May 12 | Apr 29 | Apr 13 | Sep 25 | Oct 7 | Oct 20 |
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 Aberdeen, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 31 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.
Aberdeen planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Aberdeen, SD?
On average, the last spring frost in Aberdeen is around May 8 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.
When is the first fall frost in Aberdeen, SD?
In Aberdeen, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around September 29 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Aberdeen in?
Aberdeen is in USDA hardiness zone 4a. In zone 4a, winters are cold — pick cold-hardy varieties and protect tender crops.
How long is the growing season in Aberdeen?
There are roughly 144 frost-free days in Aberdeen (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around May 8 to the first fall frost near September 29.
When should I plant tomatoes in Aberdeen?
In Aberdeen, start tomato seeds indoors around March 13–March 27, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 15 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Aberdeen
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Aberdeen’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at ABERDEEN 3 E, 4 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 Aberdeen, SD — Frost Dates & Zone 4a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00390022. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/south-dakota/aberdeen.