Frost dates for Rapid City, South Dakota
In a typical year, Rapid City’s last spring frost lands around May 10 and the first fall frost around Oct 5, a growing season of about 148 days. These are odds drawn from 30-year NOAA climate normals, not a promise. USDA zone 5b.
| Odds | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|
| 10 percent | Apr 27 | Sep 20 |
| 50 percent | May 10 | Oct 5 |
| 90 percent | May 25 | Oct 18 |
A 10 percent year is an early year, a 90 percent year a late one. Frost-sensitive planting usually waits for the 90 percent side of the last-frost band.
Soil in Rapid City is typically around 70°F at 4 inches this time of year, estimated from the last two weeks of normal air temperatures.
Plantable now in Rapid City
- Radish (Cherry Belle)
- Chinese cabbage (Bilko)
- Zucchini (Eight Ball)
- Spinach (Space)
- Arugula (Astro)
- Mustard greens (Red Giant)
- Tatsoi (Tatsoi)
- Dill (Bouquet)
Timing comes from the same temperature engine the app uses, run against Rapid City’s normals for today.
Nearby cities
- Gillette, WY (around May 15 to Oct 1)
- Casper, WY (around May 10 to Sep 29)
- Cheyenne, WY (around May 14 to Oct 1)
- Laramie, WY (around Jun 7 to Sep 4)
- Bismarck, ND (around May 10 to Sep 30)
Row & Bed is a plant reference built around your garden: your zone, your frost dates, your forecast, and a cited page for every variety in your beds.
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