When to plant in Brookings, SD
USDA Zone 4bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Brookings, South Dakota — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
In zone 4b, Brookings winters are severe; choose cold-hardy perennials and time annuals carefully around the frost dates above.
The average first fall frost in Brookings is now 5 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
BROOKINGS 2 NE · 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 Brookings’s own odds, recorded at BROOKINGS 2 NE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 29 | May 15 | May 3 | Sep 6 | Sep 22 | Oct 5 |
| 32°F | May 19 | May 6 | Apr 25 | Sep 17 | Oct 1 | Oct 13 |
| 28°F | May 10 | Apr 28 | Apr 13 | Sep 25 | Oct 8 | Oct 24 |
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 Brookings, 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.
Brookings planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Brookings, SD?
On average, the last spring frost in Brookings is around May 6 (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 Brookings, SD?
Expect Brookings's first fall frost near October 1 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Brookings in?
Brookings 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 Brookings?
Brookings has about 148 frost-free days — a short growing season — between the average last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (October 1).
When should I plant tomatoes in Brookings?
For Brookings, sow tomatoes indoors about March 11–March 25 and move the seedlings out around May 13, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Brookings
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Brookings’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Watertown · 73 km
- Brandon · 81 km
- Marshall · 81 km
- Sioux Falls · 85 km
- Huron · 113 km
- Mitchell · 119 km
- Worthington · 121 km
- Willmar · 164 km
Frost dates recorded at BROOKINGS 2 NE, 3 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 Brookings, SD — Frost Dates & Zone 4b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00391076. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/south-dakota/brookings.