When to plant in Brandon, SD
USDA Zone 5aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Brandon, South Dakota — all computed from Brandon's nearest NOAA weather station.
In zone 5a, Brandon gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
The average first fall frost in Brandon is now 7 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
SIOUX FALLS · 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 Brandon’s own odds, recorded at SIOUX FALLS.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 23 | May 10 | Apr 29 | Sep 14 | Sep 27 | Oct 10 |
| 32°F | May 14 | May 1 | Apr 18 | Sep 23 | Oct 6 | Oct 20 |
| 28°F | May 5 | Apr 22 | Apr 8 | Oct 1 | Oct 17 | Oct 30 |
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 Brandon, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 16 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.
Brandon planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Brandon, SD?
Plan for the last spring frost in Brandon around May 1 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Brandon, SD?
In Brandon, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around October 6 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Brandon in?
Brandon is in USDA hardiness zone 5a. In zone 5a, winters are cold — pick cold-hardy varieties and protect tender crops.
How long is the growing season in Brandon?
Brandon has about 158 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (May 1) and first fall frost (October 6).
When should I plant tomatoes in Brandon?
For Brandon, sow tomatoes indoors about March 6–March 20 and move the seedlings out around May 8, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Brandon
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Brandon’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Sioux Falls · 13 km
- Worthington · 79 km
- Brookings · 81 km
- Vermillion · 94 km
- Le Mars · 96 km
- Yankton · 102 km
- Marshall · 114 km
- Mitchell · 118 km
Frost dates recorded at SIOUX FALLS, 12 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 Brandon, SD — Frost Dates & Zone 5a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00014944. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/south-dakota/brandon.