Frost Dates for Pierre, SD 57501
Last spring frost May 3 · First fall frost October 3 · 153 frost-free days · USDA Zone 4b
ZIP 57501 has about 17,300 people.
Moderate season: 153 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 19–May 16 (27 days). Fall frost risk spans September 19–October 17 (28 days).
Frost probability for 57501
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 16 | May 3 | April 19 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 19 | October 3 | October 17 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at OAHE DAM (13.0 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 153-day season in Pierre
In Pierre (153 frost-free days, a moderate season), 32 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 23 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 29 | May 17–May 24 | 111 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 111 available after May 17. | Jun 3 |
| Pepper | Mar 22 | May 17–May 24 | 111 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 111 available after May 17. | Jun 8 |
| Lettuce | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 12 | 188 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 10. | Aug 12 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 12–Apr 19 | 195 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 195 available after Apr 12. | Aug 1 |
| Cucumber | Apr 12 | May 17–May 24 | 125 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 125 available after May 17. | Jul 7 |
| Beans | — | May 10–May 24 | 139 | two-plantings: Plant May 10 and again by Jul 14; both mature before Sep 26. | Jul 14 |
| Peas | — | Mar 8–May 17 | 216 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 216 available after Mar 8. | Jul 23 |
| Zucchini | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 125 | two-plantings: Plant May 17 and again by Jul 12; both mature before Sep 19. | Jul 12 |
| Onion | Feb 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 188 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 188 available after Apr 5. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 8–Apr 26 | 230 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Aug 31; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 31 |
| Kale | Feb 22 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 202 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 16 |
| Broccoli | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 188 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 188 available after Apr 5. | Jul 8 |
| Cabbage | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 202 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 202 available after Apr 5. | Aug 1 |
| Radish | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 216 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Sep 1; both mature before Oct 10. | Sep 1 |
| Beets | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 216 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Aug 2; both mature before Oct 10. | Aug 2 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 19–Apr 26 | 174 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 174 available after Apr 19. | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 3 | 258 | overwinter: Plant Oct 3 to Oct 24; harvest the following summer. | Oct 24 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 29–May 24 | 209 | perennial: A perennial: plant Mar 29; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 5 | May 10–May 17 | 125 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 125 available after May 10. | Jun 15 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 19 | May 17–May 17 | 118 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 118 available after May 17. | May 21 |
| Cauliflower | Mar 22 | Apr 26–May 10 | 167 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 167 available after Apr 26. | Jul 13 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 8 | Apr 19–Apr 19 | 174 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 19 and again by Aug 2; both mature before Oct 10. | Aug 2 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 230 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Aug 31; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 31 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 8 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 202 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 202 available after Apr 5. | Jul 2 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 118 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 118 available after May 17. | May 21 |
| Eggplant | Mar 15 | May 17–May 24 | 111 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 111 available after May 17. | Jun 13 |
| Okra | Apr 5 | May 10–May 17 | 132 | two-plantings: Plant May 10 and again by Jul 12; both mature before Sep 19. | Jul 12 |
| Basil | Mar 29 | May 24–May 24 | 118 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 118 available after May 24. | Jul 7 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 5–Apr 26 | 188 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 10. | Aug 7 |
| Parsley | Feb 22 | May 10–May 17 | 153 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 153 available after May 10. | Jul 18 |
| Celery | Feb 22 | May 10–May 24 | 153 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 153 available after May 10. | May 29 |
| Scallions | Feb 22 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 202 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 11 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 202 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 21; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 21 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 22–Apr 5 | 216 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 22 and again by Aug 16; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 16 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 5 | Apr 26–May 3 | 167 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 26 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 10. | Aug 12 |
| Collards | Feb 22 | Apr 5–Apr 19 | 202 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 24. | Aug 11 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 111 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 111 available after May 17. | May 29 |
| Chives | Feb 8 | May 10–May 17 | 167 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 167 available after May 10. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 8–May 31 | 216 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 8 and again by Aug 2; both mature before Oct 10. | Aug 2 |
| Oregano | Feb 22 | May 10–May 17 | 167 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 167 available after May 10. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 8 | May 10–May 17 | 153 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 153 available after May 10. | — |
| Sage | Mar 8 | May 10–May 17 | 167 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 167 available after May 10. | — |
| Thyme | Feb 22 | May 10–May 17 | 167 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 167 available after May 10. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 22 | Apr 19–May 3 | 174 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 19 and again by Aug 7; both mature before Oct 10. | Aug 7 |
| Cosmos | Apr 5 | May 3–May 17 | 139 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 7; both mature before Sep 19. | Jul 7 |
| Lavender | Feb 8 | May 3–May 17 | 174 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 174 available after May 3. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 22 | May 3–May 10 | 139 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 17; both mature before Sep 19. | Jul 17 |
| Melons | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 111 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 111 available after May 17. | May 29 |
| Mint | — | May 3–May 17 | 174 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 174 available after May 3. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 5 | May 3–May 10 | 139 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 12; both mature before Sep 19. | Jul 12 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 10–May 24 | 132 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 132 available after May 10. | Jul 2 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 118 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 118 available after May 17. | May 31 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 3–May 17 | 139 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 139 available after May 3. | Jun 27 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 8 | May 10–May 17 | 118 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 118 available after May 10. | Jun 8 |
| Watermelon | Apr 19 | May 10–May 17 | 118 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 118 available after May 10. | Jun 3 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 19 | May 17–May 24 | 125 | two-plantings: Plant May 17 and again by Jul 12; both mature before Sep 19. | Jul 12 |
| Zinnias | Apr 5 | May 3–May 17 | 139 | two-plantings: Plant May 3 and again by Jul 7; both mature before Sep 19. | Jul 7 |
Month by month in Pierre
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 8), Lavender (Feb 8), Onion (Feb 8), Rosemary (Feb 8), Celery (Feb 22), Collards (Feb 22), +5 more. |
| March | Start indoors: Broccoli (Mar 8), Brussel Sprouts (Mar 8), Cabbage (Mar 8), Lettuce (Mar 8), Sage (Mar 8), Swiss Chard (Mar 8), +8 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 8), Beets (Mar 8), Dill (Mar 8), Peas (Mar 8), Radish (Mar 8), Spinach (Mar 8), +1 more. Plant: Strawberry (Mar 29). |
| April | Start indoors: Bok Choy (Apr 5), Corn (Apr 5), Cosmos (Apr 5), Nasturtiums (Apr 5), Okra (Apr 5), Zinnias (Apr 5), +9 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 5), Turnip (Apr 5), Carrots (Apr 12), Potatoes (Apr 19). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 5), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 5), Cabbage (Apr 5), Collards (Apr 5), Kale (Apr 5), Lettuce (Apr 5), +6 more. |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 3), Beans (May 10), Pole Beans (May 10). Transplant from: Cosmos (May 3), Lavender (May 3), Marigolds (May 3), Mint (May 3), Nasturtiums (May 3), Zinnias (May 3), +23 more. Last frost around May 3. Last sowing dates: Butternut Squash (May 21), Pumpkin (May 21), Cantaloupe (May 29), Celery (May 29), Melons (May 29), Spaghetti Squash (May 31). |
| June | Last sowing dates: Tomato (Jun 3), Watermelon (Jun 3), Pepper (Jun 8), Tomatillos (Jun 8), Eggplant (Jun 13), Corn (Jun 15), +1 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Brussel Sprouts (Jul 2), Pole Beans (Jul 2), Basil (Jul 7), Cosmos (Jul 7), Cucumber (Jul 7), Zinnias (Jul 7), +10 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Cabbage (Aug 1), Carrots (Aug 1), Beets (Aug 2), Dill (Aug 2), Swiss Chard (Aug 2), Calendula (Aug 7), +10 more. |
| September | Last sowing dates: Radish (Sep 1). |
| October | Direct sow from: Garlic (Oct 3). First frost around October 3. Last sowing dates: Garlic (Oct 24). |
| November | Harvest remaining cold-hardy crops: kale, carrots, and beets. Plant garlic bulbs for next year. |
| December | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last frost date for Pierre, SD (ZIP 57501)?
The median last spring frost date for Pierre, SD (ZIP code 57501) is around May 3. This is the 50th-percentile date — meaning half of all years see frost end before this date. Use the 10% and 90% dates to understand the full range of risk in your area. One year in ten frost ends before April 19; one in ten it runs past May 16.
What is the first fall frost date in Pierre, SD?
The median first fall frost date for Pierre, SD is around October 3. Plan to harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops like tomatoes and peppers at least a week before this date to avoid losses. The first frost arrives around September 19 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Pierre, SD?
The frost-free growing season in Pierre is about 153 days. This window — from your last spring frost to your first fall frost — is when warm-season vegetables thrive. Cold-hardy crops like kale, spinach, and peas can extend your season by weeks on either side. In Pierre (153 frost-free days, a moderate season), 32 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 23 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Pierre, SD?
Pierre, SD is in USDA hardiness zone 4b (2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map). Zones come from the average coldest winter temperature, so they tell you which perennials survive the winter; the frost dates on this page tell you when to plant.
When should I start tomatoes indoors in Pierre, SD?
Start tomatoes indoors Mar 29 and plant out May 17 in Pierre. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Pierre?
Two: plant Apr 5 and again by Aug 12; both mature before Oct 10.
When do I plant garlic in Pierre?
Oct 3 to Oct 24; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
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