Aberdeen, SD planting zone & frost dates
Aberdeen is in USDA hardiness zone 4a. The last spring frost usually comes around May 8 and the first fall frost around September 29, for a growing season of about 144 days.
Planting calendar for Aberdeen
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (May 8) using the typical timing recommended by U.S. extension services. Warm-season crops go out only after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors: Mar 13 – Mar 27 Transplant outdoors: May 15 – May 22 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Feb 27 – Mar 13 Transplant outdoors: May 22 – May 29 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Feb 27 – Mar 13 Transplant outdoors: May 22 – May 29 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Feb 27 – Mar 13 Transplant outdoors: Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Feb 27 – Mar 13 Transplant outdoors: Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Mar 27 – Apr 10 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: May 15 – May 22 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: May 15 – May 22 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: May 15 – May 22 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: May 15 – May 22 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Mar 27 – Apr 10 Transplant outdoors: May 15 – May 22 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Aug 4 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Sep 29).
Useful for zone 4a gardens
- Seed starting kit with dome — to start seeds indoors before the last frost
- LED grow light for seedlings — stops leggy seedlings
- Frost cloth / plant covers — for late spring and early fall frosts
- Soil thermometer — warm-season crops need soil above 60°F
- Cold frame / mini greenhouse — adds weeks to a short season
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Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Apr 25 | May 8 | May 21 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Oct 11 | Sep 29 | Sep 17 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after May 21, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before September 17. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around April 29.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Aberdeen
- 57401 zone 4a
- 57402 zone 4a
Nearby cities
- Huron zone 4b, last frost May 6
- Watertown zone 4b, last frost May 7
- Mitchell zone 5a, last frost May 2
- Brookings zone 4b, last frost May 6
- Sioux Falls zone 5a, last frost May 1
- Yankton zone 5a, last frost Apr 27
- Vermillion zone 5a, last frost May 3
- Rapid City zone 5b, last frost May 3
Questions
What growing zone is Aberdeen, SD?
Aberdeen is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 4a (average extreme winter low -30°F to -25°F), according to the USDA 2023 map.
When is the last frost in Aberdeen?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Aberdeen is May 8. There is still a 10% chance of frost until May 21.
When can I plant tomatoes in Aberdeen?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around May 15 – May 22. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Aberdeen 3 E, SD (USC00390022), 5.7 km (3.5 mi) from the city center, elevation 396 m, based on 9 years of records. Hardiness zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 for the ZIP code nearest to the city center. Microclimates (valleys, hills, cities, coasts) can be warmer or colder: check the local forecast before planting. How we calculate the data.