Brookings, SD planting zone & frost dates
Brookings is in USDA hardiness zone 4b. The last spring frost usually comes around May 6 and the first fall frost around October 1, for a growing season of about 145 days.
Planting calendar for Brookings
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (May 6) 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 11 – Mar 25 Transplant outdoors: May 13 – May 20 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Feb 25 – Mar 11 Transplant outdoors: May 20 – May 27 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Feb 25 – Mar 11 Transplant outdoors: May 20 – May 27 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Feb 25 – Mar 11 Transplant outdoors: Apr 8 – Apr 22 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Feb 25 – Mar 11 Transplant outdoors: Apr 8 – Apr 22 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Apr 8 – Apr 22 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Mar 25 – Apr 8 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Mar 25 – Apr 8 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Apr 8 – Apr 22 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Apr 8 – Apr 22 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Apr 8 – Apr 22 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: May 13 – May 20 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: May 13 – May 20 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: May 13 – May 20 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: May 13 – May 20 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Mar 25 – Apr 8 Transplant outdoors: May 13 – May 20 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Aug 6 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Oct 1).
Useful for zone 4b 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 6 | May 19 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Oct 13 | Oct 1 | Sep 17 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after May 19, 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 28.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Brookings
- 57006 zone 4b
- 57007 zone 4b
Nearby cities
- Watertown zone 4b, last frost May 7
- Sioux Falls zone 5a, last frost May 1
- Mitchell zone 5a, last frost May 2
- Huron zone 4b, last frost May 6
- Vermillion zone 5a, last frost May 3
- Yankton zone 5a, last frost Apr 27
- Aberdeen zone 4a, last frost May 8
- Rapid City zone 5b, last frost May 3
Questions
What growing zone is Brookings, SD?
Brookings is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 4b (average extreme winter low -25°F to -20°F), according to the USDA 2023 map.
When is the last frost in Brookings?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Brookings is May 6. There is still a 10% chance of frost until May 19.
When can I plant tomatoes in Brookings?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around May 13 – May 20. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Brookings 2 Ne, SD (USC00391076), 2.8 km (1.7 mi) from the city center, elevation 500 m, based on 30 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.