Sioux Falls, South Dakota frost dates
Frost risk by date
| Chance of frost | Spring: frost after | Fall: frost before |
|---|---|---|
| 90% | April 18 | October 20 |
| 70% | April 26 | October 12 |
| 50% | May 1 | October 6 |
| 30% | May 6 | September 30 |
| 10% | May 14 | September 23 |
Read the spring column like this: there is a 10% chance of a 32°F freeze after May 14. These are NOAA probabilities for the Sioux Falls weather station (USW00014944, elevation 436 m), 1991–2020.
Sioux Falls vegetable planting calendar
Dates count from the 50% last-frost date (May 1). For tomatoes, peppers and other frost-tender crops, waiting until the 10% date (May 14) is the cautious choice.
| Crop | Start seeds indoors | Plant out |
|---|---|---|
| Beans | Apr 10 | May 8 (usually sown directly in the garden) |
| Broccoli | Feb 20 | Apr 3 |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 20 | Apr 3 |
| Cabbage | Feb 13 | Mar 27 |
| Cauliflower | Mar 6 | Apr 17 |
| Sweet corn | Apr 3 | May 1 (usually sown directly in the garden) |
| Cucumbers | Apr 17 | May 8 |
| Kale | Feb 13 | Mar 27 |
| Leeks | Jan 16 | Mar 27 |
| Lettuce | Mar 13 | Apr 17 |
| Melons | Apr 24 | May 15 |
| Onions | Jan 9 | Mar 20 (from seed; sets and transplants go out at the same time) |
| Peas | Mar 6 | Apr 3 (usually sown directly in the garden) |
| Peppers | Mar 20 | May 15 |
| Squash | Apr 24 | May 15 |
| Tomatoes | Mar 6 | May 1 |
Offsets from Oregon State University Extension's seed-starting table. "Plant out" means transplant, or sow directly for crops usually grown from seed.
Fall frost and season extension
The first fall freeze usually arrives around October 6. There's a 1-in-10 chance it comes before September 23. Harvest tender crops such as basil, tomatoes, peppers and squash before then, or cover them on cold nights. Cool-season crops like kale, cabbage and Brussels sprouts handle light frost, and often taste sweeter after it. A hard freeze (28°F) typically comes around October 17.
Nearby cities
| City | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha, NE | Apr 18 | Oct 21 | ~261 km |
| Lincoln, NE | Apr 24 | Oct 13 | ~304 km |
| Minneapolis, MN | Apr 23 | Oct 18 | ~316 km |
| Des Moines, IA | Apr 18 | Oct 20 | ~336 km |
| Fargo, ND | May 10 | Sep 30 | ~371 km |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | Apr 27 | Oct 11 | ~445 km |