Frost dates for ZIP 57794 (Wounded Knee, 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, Pine Ridge AP, SD (9 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 1650% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 2750% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)132 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone5a-20 to -15°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 17, 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 57794 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 3 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 16 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 31 |
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 13 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 27 |
| 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 26 | Sep 17 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 16 | Sep 27 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 5 | Oct 4 |
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 57794
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 16) and first fall frost (Sep 27). 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 2–23 (transplant) Jul 19–Aug 16 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–23 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 21–Apr 4 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 5–Aug 2 (transplant) Jun 21–Jul 19 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 21–Apr 4 | Apr 18–May 16 (transplant) Apr 18–May 16 (sow outdoors) | Jul 5–Aug 2 (transplant) Jun 21–Jul 19 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 7–21 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | Jun 21–Jul 19 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 7–21 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | Jun 21–Jul 19 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 7–21 | May 2–16 (transplant) | Jun 21–Jul 19 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | Jun 7–28 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 21–Apr 4 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 19–Aug 2 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–16 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 18–May 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–30 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 18–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–16 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 4–18 | May 2–23 (transplant) May 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Jul 19–Aug 2 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 18–May 16 (sow outdoors) | Jul 19–Aug 2 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 25–May 23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 5–19 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 11–May 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 18–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 19–Aug 2 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 25–May 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 21–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 5–19 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 4–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 19–Aug 2 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 16–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | Jun 7–21 (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 2–16 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 7–21 | May 2–16 (transplant) Apr 25–May 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–16 (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 19–Aug 16 (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: Pine Ridge AP, SD (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00094039), elevation 3,278 ft, 8.9 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manderson 3 NE, SD | 10 mi | May 9 | Oct 4 |
| Oglala 1S, SD | 17 mi | May 7 | Oct 4 |
| Gordon 6N, NE | 19 mi | May 11 | Oct 2 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 9 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 57794
When is the last frost in 57794?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 57794 is May 16. For a more cautious planting date, use May 31, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 57794?
The average first fall freeze is September 27. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 13.
What hardiness zone is 57794?
ZIP 57794 is in USDA zone 5a (-20 to -15°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 57794 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
57756 Manderson-White Horse Creek 57716 Batesland 69365 White Clay 57770 Pine Ridge 57764 Oglala 57752 Kyle 57772 Porcupine 69360 Rushville
Other ZIP codes in Oglala Lakota County
57716 57722 57752 57756 57764 57770 57772 All Oglala Lakota County frost dates · South Dakota frost dates
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