Fall in zone 4bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 57787 (Meade County, SD)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Red Owl, SD (5 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 1650% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 2650% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)131 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone4b-25 to -20°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 57787 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring mid-April to early May.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: North (cool-season). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | May 4 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 16 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 27 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Sep 11 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 26 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 8 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 25 | Sep 17 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 16 | Sep 26 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 6 | Oct 3 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 57787
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 16) and first fall frost (Sep 26). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 21–Apr 4 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 7–21 | May 30–Jun 13 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 7–21 | May 30–Jun 13 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 21–Apr 4 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 21–Apr 4 | Apr 25–May 16 (transplant) Apr 18–May 30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–22 (transplant) Jul 18–Aug 15 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–22 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 21–Apr 4 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 4–Aug 1 (transplant) Jun 20–Jul 18 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 21–Apr 4 | Apr 18–May 16 (transplant) Apr 18–May 16 (sow outdoors) | Jul 4–Aug 1 (transplant) Jun 20–Jul 18 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 7–21 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | Jun 20–Jul 18 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 7–21 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | Jun 20–Jul 18 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 7–21 | May 2–16 (transplant) | Jun 20–Jul 18 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | Jun 6–27 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 21–Apr 4 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–15 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 18–May 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–29 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 18–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–15 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 4–18 | May 2–23 (transplant) May 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 18–May 16 (sow outdoors) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 25–May 23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 4–18 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 11–May 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 15–29 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 18–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 25–May 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 21–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 4–18 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 4–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 18–Aug 1 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 15–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 15–Sep 12 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | Jun 6–20 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 30–Jun 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 18–25 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 18–25 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 18–25 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 18–25 | May 30–Jun 13 (transplant) May 30–Jun 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 18–25 | May 30–Jun 13 (transplant) May 30–Jun 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 4–18 | May 30–Jun 13 (transplant) May 30–Jun 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 21–Mar 7 | May 23–30 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 4–18 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–15 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 7–21 | May 2–16 (transplant) Apr 25–May 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 1–15 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | Jul 18–Aug 15 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Red Owl, SD (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00397073), elevation 2,773 ft, 5.2 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maurine 12SW, SD | 14 mi | May 13 | Sep 28 |
| Plainview 6 SSW, SD | 24 mi | May 15 | Sep 27 |
| Elm Springs 3 ESE, SD | 26 mi | May 8 | Oct 3 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 8 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 57787
When is the last frost in 57787?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 57787 is May 16. For a more cautious planting date, use May 27, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 57787?
The average first fall freeze is September 26. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 11.
What hardiness zone is 57787?
ZIP 57787 is in USDA zone 4b (-25 to -20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 57787 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
57737 57792 57758 57788 Vale 57791 Wasta 57761 New Underwood 57785 Sturgis 57748 Bridger
Other ZIP codes in Meade County
57706 57718 57719 57737 57741 57748 57758 57761 57767 57769 57785 57791 57792 All Meade County frost dates · South Dakota frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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- Weekly yard to-dos
Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.