When to plant tomatoes in South Dakota

Tomatoes
Plant out in Sioux Falls
May 3–May 17

Across South Dakota the window opens between May 3 and May 15. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Sioux Falls
Mar 1–Mar 15
Plant out, Sioux Falls
May 3–May 17
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 6
Last frost, Sioux Falls
Apr 26

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Wait for nights that stay above 50°F. A cold snap after transplanting stalls tomatoes for weeks.

Tomatoes planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Sioux FallsMay 3–May 17
Rapid CityMay 10–May 24
AberdeenMay 15–May 29
BrookingsMay 13–May 27
WatertownMay 14–May 28

Questions

When should I plant tomatoes in South Dakota?

In Sioux Falls, plant out from May 3 to May 17. Across South Dakota the window opens between May 3 and May 15, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for South Dakota

Tomatoes in other states

Frost dates for every city in South Dakota