When to plant in Sioux Falls, SD
USDA Zone 5aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Sioux Falls, South Dakota — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
In zone 5a, Sioux Falls gardeners can grow many hardy perennials, while the last and first frost still dictate the annual vegetable calendar.
Frost probability
SIOUX FALLS WFO AP · 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 Sioux Falls’s own odds, recorded at SIOUX FALLS WFO AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 19 | May 6 | Apr 23 | Sep 20 | Oct 2 | Oct 16 |
| 32°F | May 9 | Apr 26 | Apr 10 | Sep 28 | Oct 13 | Oct 28 |
| 28°F | Apr 30 | Apr 15 | Apr 2 | Oct 11 | Oct 24 | Nov 6 |
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 Sioux Falls, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 23 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.
Sioux Falls planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Sioux Falls, SD?
On average, the last spring frost in Sioux Falls is around April 26 (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 Sioux Falls, SD?
The first fall frost in Sioux Falls typically arrives around October 13 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Sioux Falls in?
Sioux Falls 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 Sioux Falls?
Sioux Falls has about 170 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 26) and first fall frost (October 13).
When should I plant tomatoes in Sioux Falls?
For Sioux Falls, sow tomatoes indoors about March 1–March 15 and move the seedlings out around May 3, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Sioux Falls
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Sioux Falls’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Brandon · 13 km
- Brookings · 85 km
- Vermillion · 86 km
- Yankton · 90 km
- Worthington · 92 km
- Le Mars · 96 km
- Mitchell · 107 km
- Sioux City · 120 km
Frost dates recorded at SIOUX FALLS WFO AP, 5 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 Sioux Falls, SD — Frost Dates & Zone 5a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00397666. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/south-dakota/sioux-falls.