South Dakota (SD) Vegetable Planting Calendar: Month-wise Chart, Dates Guide, Schedule for Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer Seasons

This article will help you plan veggies in your South Dakota garden, whether you want to do it to get some exercise, save money, eat better, or encourage your kids (or yourself!) to eat more fresh vegetables. Below we learn the South Dakota vegetable planting calendar, month-by-month vegetable planting guide, different vegetables to grow in South Dakota, and the planting zones of South Dakota.

South Dakota (SD) vegetable planting calendar

When should I plant my garden in South Dakota?

There are two main categories of vegetables, those that thrive in temperatures between 40 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit and those that need temperatures of at least 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Examples of vegetables that thrive in the cool temperatures of the fall and winter include salad greens, beets, cauliflower, peas, radishes, broccoli, cabbage, and carrots. Because most of them thrive in cooler conditions, you can plant them from early to mid-spring.

Examples of crops that thrive in the warmer months include tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, beans, and squash. They must wait to be planted until all risk of frost has passed. The best soil for a garden is loose soil, which doesn’t harden during dry spells, and drains well. Adding compost that has had time to decompose each year can assist even if your soil isn’t perfect. Soil testing is recommended since it helps find any issues.

When can you plant tomatoes in South Dakota?

Planting tomatoes outside is best left until late spring or early summer since they are not frost-hardy and thrive only at temperatures above 50°F. The optimal conditions for crop growth are sunny skies and not-too-cold temperatures (70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and 65 at night). Many early determinate cultivars can set fruit at temperatures as low as 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit; some have even been developed to endure the greater temperatures in the summer.

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Even though tomatoes often produce more blooms when temperatures are high, pollen production is reduced, and fruit development is diminished when temperatures are over 80 degrees Fahrenheit, particularly when high humidity is also present. Nighttime lows below 72 degrees Fahrenheit will provide some relief from the afternoon heat.

If the temperature outside is over 95 degrees Fahrenheit, the fruit will not ripen and will not change color. Tomatoes are very adaptable and can thrive on a wide variety of soils. High-quality fruit can be harvested early if the soil is light, rich, and well-drained. Soil pH values between 5.5 to 7.8 are optimal for tomato growth.

When should I plant potatoes in South Dakota?

For optimal growth, plant potatoes in the spring when soil temperatures have reached 45 °F but are still below 70 °F constantly. Do not plant late in the season since hot summer weather greatly increases the likelihood of tuber rot. Planting potatoes requires loose, well-drained soil. Find a spot that hasn’t been used for growing potatoes or tomatoes, peppers, or eggplant in the last three years to reduce the risk of diseases. It’s best to wait a year before planting anything in a spot with the previous year’s harvest of root vegetables.

Growing potatoes on a raised bed help the soil drain better, especially if you live in a region with thick soil. Though most potato crops need overwintering tubers, one new variety can be started from ordinary seed. In the case of a seed potato tuber, the “eyes” are bud structures that will develop into new plants. While golf ball-sized seed potatoes can be planted whole, bigger ones should be chopped into tiny pieces with at least two eyes per piece.

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When plants germinate from larger seed bits, they are often stronger than that grown from smaller ones. A protective coating will develop on the cut surfaces of the seed potatoes if they are sliced 6-10 days before planting. To promote the growth of protective tissue, seed cuttings should be kept in a cool, dry place with high humidity (90 percent or higher) and excellent air circulation around the cut surfaces.

What gardening zone is South Dakota? / What zone is South Dakota for planting?

The continental climate of South Dakota causes its summers to be hot and humid and its winters to be dry and cold, with frequent ice storms and blizzards. January highs often hover at or below freezing, while July highs routinely top 100 degrees. While the state’s southeast can receive as much as 25 inches of precipitation in certain years, the northwest is mostly semiarid, with an annual precipitation average of approximately 15 inches.

The Black Hills get the greatest yearly precipitation of any area in South Dakota, with over 30 inches on average. Summer thunderstorms can bring hail and strong winds. A state section called “tornado alley” can be found in the east. The region is impacted by about 30 tornadoes annually. An online planting zone map with hardness zones is a handy tool for determining the appropriate location for a new plant.

South Dakota spans hardiness zones 3b to 5a. When planning a garden, knowing which plants can flourish in your region can be helpful based on the growth zone, also known as the planting zone. A zone map can also be useful for figuring out how wintery an area is likely to be for plants. Additionally, they suggest the optimal periods for planting. Below are the zone 4b planting schedule and 3 and 5 and South Dakota planting dates.

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When planting in South Dakota, it’s best to stick to species that can survive in Zone 5 or below. So, for example, in zone 3b, you can grow anything recommended for zones 1 through 3. Never grow anything that thrives only in a warmer climatic zone unless you want to see it die throughout the winter. Almost every kind of vegetable is possible to grow. Asparagus, beets, carrots, celery, radishes, broccoli, tomatoes, Brussels sprouts, spinach, and many more will all thrive.

Can I grow potatoes in South Dakota?

Even while we’d love it if the soil in South Dakota got that warm every year, it just doesn’t happen very often. Planting potatoes is best when the soil temperature is at least 50 degrees since potatoes can survive mild freezes down to 32 degrees Fahrenheit. New potato growers should ensure that each potato has at least two eyes. Perhaps you’re wondering whether you can simply pick up a potato at the supermarket.

Potatoes grown for seed are assured to be disease-free and true to type, unlike supermarket potatoes. Potatoes should be planted with their eyes facing upward and 6 inches deep. Use a phosphorus-rich fertilizer to get the best results from your potato crop. The potato plant should be hilled after it has reached a height of around a foot. So that the tubers can develop, this is important. There is nothing quite like a homegrown potato, and most varieties of potatoes can be harvested 70–100 days after planting.

What is South Dakota’s climate?

South Dakota has a continental climate, with cold, dry winters and mild, semi-humid summers. During the summer, highs in the state often hover around 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius), while lows at night typically hover around 60 degrees Fahrenheit (16 degrees Celsius).

In South Dakota, it is not unusual for the temperature to rise beyond 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) on many occasions throughout the summer. The majority of the state has cold weather in the winter, with temperatures in January rarely rising above freezing and often falling below 10 degrees Fahrenheit (-12 degrees Celsius).

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The average annual rainfall of South Dakota is 15 inches (380 mm) in the northwest, 25 inches (640 mm) in the southeast, and almost 30 inches (760 mm) in a tiny area around Lead in the Black Hills. In the summer in South Dakota, you can usually count on some hail, lightning, and gusty winds. The eastern part of South Dakota is often referred to as Tornado Alley due to the high frequency with which tornadoes strike. Winter brings frequent blizzards and ice storms.

What are the best vegetables to grow in South Dakota?

If you want to grow broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, etc., successfully throughout much of South Dakota, check for the words “heat-tolerant” or “widely adapted” in the product description. Try to find “frost-resistant” varieties of early-seeded or late-maturing crops. For Asparagus, try to find sturdy cultivars such as the all-male hybrids’ Jersey Giant,’ ‘Jersey King,’ etc. Old standbys like the ‘Mary/Martha Washington’ and ‘Viking’ varieties are less productive and more prone to disease.

However, they are widely accessible and typically resistant to environmental stresses and human care. You’ll need to reseed bush beans every two to three weeks until midsummer since they mature more slowly than pole kinds yet don’t need trellises or poles. Beans of the bush often mature a week or two before the pole beans.

The cruciferous vegetables, broccoli, and cauliflower. Cauliflower, in particular, can be challenging to grow in South Dakota owing to our unpredictable spring weather. It has been claimed that sprouting broccoli (without a big central head) is more heat-tolerant than other kinds and can be harvested for longer.

For cabbage, choose spring-maturing varieties for planting in March-May, and fall-maturing varieties for sowing in late May–early June. Some varieties can withstand or even thrive in the presence of black rot, tip burn, Fusarium wilt (yellows), and head-splitting or bursting. The blackleg and black rot diseases can be eliminated by purchasing seed that has been hot-water treated.

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The most common varieties of cucumbers are those bred for slicing (for fresh consumption) and those bred for pickling. Avoid making pickles out of burpless (non-bitter skin) varieties unless you like mushy relish. It’s worth noting that the “dual-purpose” cultivars that can be pickled or eaten fresh are not burpless. If you’re short on room, try growing a bushy variety or placing strong trellises.

In Eggplants, large oval and elongated are the two other common shapes. Maturity can be expected anywhere from 50 to 80 days after transplantation, depending on the type. The color of an eggplant’s fruit can vary from white to pale pink or purple to deep black, depending on the type. Peppers come in various shapes and sizes, and their flavors can vary from mild (bell) to fiery (habanero).

When young, they are a bright yellowish or purplish green; when fully grown, they can be any of many other colors. Look for types labeled resistant to bacterial leaf spots or certain viruses if you’ve previously had trouble with them. Even though red and white potatoes predominate, yellow and blue-skinned and fleshed types are available to growers. Some types are more suited for boiling/mashing, others are better suited for baking, and others can be used for either purpose.

What are South Dakota’s corn planting dates?

Late April to mid-June is the optimal time for spring planting. Midway through May and mid-June, South Dakota gardeners usually begin planting corn. Seeds need the right conditions for germination, like warm, wet soil. Soil tillage and planting should be avoided if at all possible during rainy periods. Planting delays can affect crop yields, although there is no guarantee of this happening. However, “mudding” the seed will diminish the yield of the present and future crops developed because of the compaction issues.

South Dakota vegetable planting calendar/guide/schedule/chart

Vegetables	Zone 3	Zone 4	Zone 5

Snap Beans	Mid-June to Mid-Sep	June to Mid-Sep	Mid-May to Sep
Lima beans	Mid-May to Mid-June	May	Mid-May to Sep
Beets	Mid-May to Mid-Sep	Mid-Apr to Jun, Mid-July to Sep	Apr to June, Mid-July to Mid-Oct
Broccoli	Mid-May to Sep	Apr to June, July to Mid-Aug	Mid-Mar to June, July to Oct
Brussel Sprouts	Mid-May to Mid-Oct	Mid-Apr to Mid-Oct	Apr to Oct
Cabbage	Mid-May to Mid-Sep	May to Mid-Oct	Mid-Apr to Oct
Carrots	Mid-June to Mid-Sep	Mid-Apr to June, Mid-July to Sep	Apr to Jun, Aug to Mid-Oct
Cauliflowers	Mid-May to Sep	May to Sep	Mid-Apr to Mid-Oct
Corn	–	June to Mid-Sep	Mid-May to Mid-Sep
Cucumber	Mid-June to Mid-Sep	June to Mid-Sep	Mid-May to Mid-Sep
Kale	May to Sep	Mid-Apr to June, Mid-July to Mid-Oct	Apr to June, Mid-July to Oct
Lettuce	Mid-May to Sep	May to June, Mid-July to Sep	Mid-Apr to June, Mid-July to Mid-Oct
Onions	–	Mid-Apr to Mid-Sep	Apr to Sep
Peas	Mid-May to Mid-Sep	Mid-Apr to June	Apr to June, Mid-July to Mid-Oct
Peppers	Mid-Apr to Aug	Mid-Apr to Mid-Sep	Apr to Sep
Spinach	May to Sep	Mid-Apr to June, Mid-July to Mid-Oct	Apr to June, Mid-July to Oct
Summer Squash	–	June to Mid-Sep	Mid-May to Sep
Tomato	Mid-Apr to Aug	Mid-Apr to Mid-Sep	Apr to Sep
Asparagus	Mid-Apr to May	Mid-Apr to May	Apr
Artichokes	–	–	–
Celery	Mid-May	Mid-May
Chard	Early May	Early May	–
Chives	–	–	–
Eggplants	Early June	Early June	May
Kohlrabi	Mid-Apr to Mid-Aug	Mid-Apr to Mid-Aug	Early Apr and Late-Sep
Okra	Early June	Early June	Mid-May to late May
Potatoes	Mid-Apr to June	Mid-Apr to June	Early April to Mid-April
Radish	Apr to June, Aug	Apr to June	Late Mar to early May
Winter squash	May to June	May to June	May

Conclusion

With the right care, vegetables can maintain their freshness for weeks, even months. Vegetables should be stored in the fridge or the pantry, depending on the kind. Proper temperature, humidity, and air movement are essential while storing vegetables.

Moving the garden each year or rotating the crops grown there can be beneficial in reducing the likelihood of pests and diseases. If you live in the following cities, towns, and counties and plan to grow vegetables in South Dakota, this Vegetable Planting Calendar chart and guide will help you to set up your garden.

Sioux Falls	Tea
Rapid City	Milbank
Pierre	Mobridge
Sturgis	Sisseton
Watertown	Box Elder
Aberdeen	Pine Ridge
Spearfish	Lennox
Mitchell	Flandreau
Brookings	Dell Rapids
Yankton	Dakota Dunes
Huron	Volga
Custer	Fort Pierre
Hot Springs	North Sioux City
Vermillion	Central South Dakota
Madison	Easten South Dakota
Chamberlain	Western South Dakota
Winner	Northen South Dakota
Lead	Southern South Dakota
Belle Fourche

South Dakota (SD) Vegetable Planting Calendar: Month-wise Chart, Dates Guide, Schedule for Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer Seasons

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