Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Dickinson, ND
Plan your garden around Dickinson, ND's typical frost-free growing season, using NOAA climate normals and a 42-crop planting calendar built for this location.
Last Spring Frost
May 20
Safe Jun 1
Typical May 20
Risky May 8
First Fall Frost
September 22
Safe Sep 8
Typical Sep 22
Risky Oct 3
Growing Season
123 days
Typical last frost to typical first frost.
USDA Hardiness Zone
Zone 4b
Very cold winters, focus on short-season varieties and cold-hardy perennials.
Data: NOAA station DICKINSON, ND US, 1.6 km away.
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days until the typical last spring frost
Monthly Temperatures
Avg. high
Avg. temp
Avg. low
Planting Calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 25 – Apr 8 | — | May 27 – Jun 3 | — | 60–85 days | Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Pepper | Mar 11 – Mar 25 | — | May 27 – Jun 10 | — | 60–90 days | Slow to germinate; start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant only once nights stay above 55F, 1-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Eggplant | Mar 11 – Mar 25 | — | Jun 3 – Jun 10 | — | 65–85 days | Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant. |
| Cucumber | Apr 22 – Apr 29 | May 27 – Jun 3 | May 27 – Jun 3 | — | 50–65 days | Can be started indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting, or direct-sown 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil is warm. |
| Zucchini | Apr 29 – May 6 | May 27 – Jun 10 | May 27 – Jun 3 | — | 45–55 days | Fast-growing squash; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 2-3 weeks early for a head start. |
| Winter Squash | Apr 22 – Apr 29 | May 27 – Jun 10 | May 27 – Jun 3 | — | 80–110 days | Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates. |
| Pumpkin | — | May 27 – Jun 10 | — | — | 90–120 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost; back-time from your first fall frost so the 90-120 day maturity window lands before it. |
| Watermelon | Apr 22 – Apr 29 | — | Jun 3 – Jun 10 | — | 70–90 days | Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 22 – Apr 29 | — | Jun 3 – Jun 10 | — | 70–90 days | Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting. |
| Corn | — | May 20 – Jun 3 | — | — | 60–100 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil reaches 60F; does not transplant well. Succession sow every 2 weeks. |
| Green Bean | — | May 20 – Jun 3 | — | — | 50–65 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush. |
| Pea | — | Apr 8 – Apr 22 | — | — | 55–70 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Lettuce | — | Apr 22 – May 6 | — | Jul 28 – Aug 11 | 45–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts. |
| Spinach | — | Apr 8 – Apr 22 | — | Jul 28 – Aug 11 | 40–50 days | Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Kale | — | Apr 22 – May 6 | — | Jul 14 – Jul 28 | 50–65 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants. |
| Arugula | — | Apr 22 – May 6 | — | Aug 11 – Aug 18 | 30–40 days | Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks. |
| Swiss Chard | — | Apr 29 – May 13 | — | — | 50–60 days | Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too. |
| Broccoli | Apr 1 – Apr 15 | — | Apr 29 – May 6 | Jul 21 – Jul 28 | 55–80 days | Start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost; transplant out 2-3 weeks before last frost (hardens off to light frost). |
| Cauliflower | Apr 1 – Apr 15 | — | May 6 – May 13 | Jul 14 – Jul 21 | 55–85 days | Fussier than broccoli about temperature swings; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost. |
| Cabbage | Apr 1 – Apr 15 | — | Apr 22 – May 6 | Jul 14 – Jul 28 | 60–100 days | Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Brussels Sprouts | Apr 1 – Apr 15 | — | Apr 29 – May 13 | — | 90–110 days | Long-season crop best timed to mature after a light fall frost for sweetest flavor; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost. |
| Carrot | — | Apr 22 – May 6 | — | Jun 30 – Jul 14 | 60–80 days | Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Beet | — | Apr 22 – May 6 | — | Jul 14 – Jul 28 | 50–65 days | Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost. |
| Radish | — | Apr 15 – Apr 29 | — | Aug 11 – Aug 25 | 22–30 days | Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Turnip | — | Apr 22 – May 6 | — | Jul 14 – Jul 28 | 40–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Onion | Mar 11 – Mar 25 | — | Apr 22 – May 6 | — | 90–120 days | Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost (or use sets/transplants); set out 2-4 weeks before last frost, very cold-tolerant as seedlings. |
| Garlic | — | — | — | Aug 25 – Sep 8 | 240–270 days | Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates. |
| Potato | — | Apr 22 – May 6 | — | — | 70–120 days | Plant seed potatoes 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked and is above 45F; light frost on emerging foliage is usually tolerated. |
| Sweet Potato | — | — | Jun 3 – Jun 17 | — | 90–120 days | Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive. |
| Asparagus | — | — | Apr 22 – May 6 | — | 730–1095 days | Perennial; plant crowns 2-4 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. Takes 2-3 years to full production. |
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | Apr 8 – Apr 15 | — | May 27 – Jun 3 | — | 50–70 days | Very frost/cold sensitive; start indoors 5-6 weeks before last frost, transplant only after all danger of frost (1-2 weeks after) and nights stay warm. |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 29 – May 13 | — | Jul 28 – Aug 11 | 45–70 days | Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring. |
| Parsley | Mar 25 – Apr 8 | — | May 6 – May 13 | — | 70–90 days | Slow to germinate; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost (biennial, cold-tolerant). |
| Dill | — | Apr 29 – May 13 | — | — | 40–60 days | Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer. |
| Oregano | Mar 25 – Apr 8 | — | May 20 – May 27 | — | 80–90 days | Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date. |
| Thyme | Mar 25 – Apr 8 | — | May 20 – May 27 | — | 85–95 days | Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost. |
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflower | — | May 27 – Jun 10 | — | — | 70–100 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting. |
| Zinnia | Apr 22 – Apr 29 | May 27 – Jun 10 | May 27 – Jun 3 | — | 60–70 days | Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms. |
| Marigold | Apr 8 – Apr 22 | — | May 27 – Jun 3 | — | 45–60 days | Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed. |
| Cosmos | Apr 22 – Apr 29 | May 27 – Jun 10 | May 27 – Jun 3 | — | 60–90 days | Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early. |
| Nasturtium | — | May 27 – Jun 10 | — | — | 50–65 days | Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Dahlia | — | — | May 27 – Jun 10 | — | 90–120 days | Plant tubers 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil is warm (60F+); very frost-sensitive. |
Date ranges are estimates based on university extension guidelines and this city's NOAA frost normals — not a guarantee. Scroll to see all columns on narrow screens.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the last frost in Dickinson, ND?
Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the DICKINSON, ND US station, the last spring frost in Dickinson typically falls around May 20. A cautious gardener might wait until June 1 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while May 8 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.
When is the first frost in Dickinson, ND in fall?
The first fall frost in Dickinson typically arrives around September 22. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as September 8; in milder years it can hold off until October 3.
How long is the growing season in Dickinson, ND?
Dickinson's average frost-free growing season is about 123 days, running from the typical last spring frost (May 20) to the typical first fall frost (September 22).
What USDA hardiness zone is Dickinson, ND in?
Dickinson, ND is in USDA plant hardiness zone 4b, per the USDA's 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Very cold winters, focus on short-season varieties and cold-hardy perennials.