Greenly Garden

Last and first frost dates in Pierre

United States

In Pierre the last spring frost usually comes around 26 April and the first autumn frost around 24 October, which leaves about 181 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 9 May to 4 July.

Last spring frostaround 26 April
First autumn frostaround 24 October
Frost-free days181 days

Median of 2016–2025 for the 25 km grid cell of the city: the last day at or below 0 °C in spring and the first in autumn (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo). In a cold year a frost can come a week or two later — Greenly warns 48 hours ahead.

When is the last frost in Pierre?

The last frost in Pierre usually comes around 26 April: that is the median of 2016–2025, so in about half of those years the last night at or below 0 °C came later. Hardy crops start before it and frost-tender ones only after it: in the table below arugula can go into open ground from 5 April, while corn waits until 3 May. The first autumn frost follows around 24 October, about 181 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha3 March – 16 July12 April – 25 August3 May – 25 August
Ageratumfrom 21 February—from 9 May
Arugula——sow 5 April – 19 September
Basil27 March – 22 August4 May – 29 September25 May – 29 September
Beet——sow 5 April – 25 August
Bell Pepper5 March – 5 May4 May – 4 July25 May – 4 July
Black-eyed Susanfrom 9 February—from 3 May
Bok Choy8 March – 2 September12 April – 7 October3 May – 7 October
Borage——sow 3 May – 30 August
Broad bean——sow 5 April – 16 July
Broccoli——sow 5 April – 9 July
Brussels Sprouts29 January – 6 June15 March – 21 July5 April – 21 July
Busy Lizziefrom 8 February—from 3 May
Cabbage——sow 5 April – 16 June
Calendula——sow from 5 April
Carrot——sow 5 April – 1 August
Cauliflower1 February – 9 July15 March – 20 August5 April – 20 August
Celeriac25 January – 6 May12 April – 22 July3 May – 22 July
Celery25 January – 16 May12 April – 1 August3 May – 1 August
Celosiafrom 5 Marchfrom 19 Aprilfrom 10 May
Chamomile——sow 5 April – 20 August
Chayote14 January – 29 April12 April – 26 July3 May – 26 July
Chickpea——sow 5 April – 6 July
Chicory18 February – 31 July—5 April – 25 August
Chili Pepper5 March – 11 June4 May – 10 August25 May – 10 August
China asterfrom 13 Marchfrom 4 Mayfrom 25 May
Chives——sow 5 April – 11 August
Cilantro——sow 5 April – 21 August
Corn——sow 3 May – 6 July
Corn poppy——sow from 5 April
Cosmosfrom 5 Marchfrom 19 Aprilfrom 10 May
Cucumber6 April – 12 July4 May – 9 August25 May – 9 August
Daikon——sow 5 April – 18 August
Delphiniumfrom 15 January—from 5 April
Dill——sow 5 April – 31 August
Edging lobeliafrom 8 February—from 3 May
Eggplant5 March – 5 May4 May – 4 July25 May – 4 July
Florence fennel26 February – 16 July12 April – 30 August3 May – 30 August
Foxglovefrom 28 December—from 5 April
Garden sorrel——sow 5 April – 19 August
Green Beans——sow 10 May – 14 July
Hollyhock——sow from 5 April
Hyssop——sow 5 April – 12 July
Kale——sow 5 April – 13 August
Kiwano17 March – 19 July18 April – 20 August9 May – 20 August
Kohlrabi——sow 5 April – 23 August
Leek4 January – 27 April15 March – 6 July5 April – 6 July
Lemon balm——sow 5 April – 15 August
Lettuce——sow 5 April – 28 August
Lisianthusfrom 18 Decemberfrom 15 Marchfrom 5 April
Lovage——sow from 5 April
Luffa23 March – 13 May4 May – 24 June25 May – 24 June
Marigoldfrom 1 Marchfrom 12 Aprilfrom 3 May
Marjoram5 March – 31 July—25 May – 29 September
Melon6 April – 29 June4 May – 27 July25 May – 27 July
Microgreens——sow 10 May – 10 October
Moringa13 March – 5 August7 May – 29 September28 May – 29 September
Moss rosefrom 15 February—from 3 May
Mustard greens——sow 5 April – 9 September
Napa cabbage10 March – 10 August12 April – 12 September3 May – 12 September
Nasturtiumfrom 5 Marchfrom 12 Aprilfrom 3 May
Okra23 March – 24 July4 May – 4 September25 May – 4 September
Oregano14 January – 21 July15 March – 19 September5 April – 19 September
Pansyfrom 18 Januaryfrom 15 Marchfrom 5 April
Parsley——sow 5 April – 9 August
Parsnip——sow 5 April – 28 June
Peanut28 March – 19 June4 May – 26 July25 May – 26 July
Peas——sow 5 April – 11 August
Petuniafrom 2 Marchfrom 4 Mayfrom 25 May
Physalis4 March – 16 June18 April – 31 July9 May – 31 July
Pumpkin23 March – 18 May4 May – 29 June25 May – 29 June
Purple coneflowerfrom 12 January—from 5 April
Radish——sow 5 April – 24 September
Sage25 January – 17 July15 March – 4 September5 April – 4 September
Scarlet sagefrom 25 February—from 9 May
Snapdragonfrom 9 Januaryfrom 15 Marchfrom 5 April
Soybean——sow 25 May – 5 August
Spinach——sow 5 April – 30 August
Stevia28 February – 7 June18 April – 26 July9 May – 26 July
Stock——sow from 5 April
Sunflower——sow from 10 May
Sweet alyssum——sow from 5 April
Sweet Corn24 March – 31 July15 April – 22 August6 May – 22 August
Sweet peafrom 1 Februaryfrom 15 Marchfrom 5 April
Sweet William——sow from 5 April
Swiss Chard——sow 5 April – 25 August
Thyme——sow 5 April – 6 July
Tomato25 February – 13 May18 April – 4 July9 May – 4 July
Turnip——sow 5 April – 27 August
Watercress——sow 5 April – 7 September
Watermelon6 April – 17 June4 May – 15 July25 May – 15 July
Zinniafrom 2 Aprilfrom 7 Mayfrom 28 May
Zucchini13 April – 17 July4 May – 7 August25 May – 7 August

Planting out: a week after the last frost once the soil is warm enough for the crop; frost-hardy crops three weeks before it; an unheated greenhouse three weeks earlier. Seedlings are sown so they are ready on that day. Each window starts on the Greenly calendar date and ends on the last day that still leaves the crop’s days to harvest (from its card) before the average first autumn frost, plus six weeks of picking for crops harvested over weeks (tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins, watermelons, beans) — our rule; earlier in the window is safer.

When the soil warms up in Pierre

The day the top 7 cm of soil first averages each temperature over a week, median of 2016–2025 (ERA5 via Open-Meteo). The soil reaches 10 °C 5 days before the last spring frost and 15 °C 13 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °C4 April22 days earlier
10 °C21 April5 days earlier
15 °C9 May13 days later
18 °C25 May29 days later

Frost dates near Pierre

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Grand Island (19 April) and latest in Rapid City (7 May).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Rapid City233 km7 May12 October
Bismarck274 km1 May15 October
Sioux Falls302 km24 April21 October
Fargo391 km30 April16 October
Grand Island416 km19 April27 October

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Pierre

Within 15 km of Pierre OpenStreetMap lists 1 market (collected 28 October 2026). The nearest market to the city centre is The Alley Exchange, 3 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Pierre

Frosts in Pierre usually come from about 24 October to about 26 April. These plants have indoor care in their Greenly cards and are harvested quickly, so they can be sown on a windowsill in winter.

Weather in Pierre by month

Average weather in Pierre over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: May–September (21.8–31.7 °C). Months that average 30 °C or more by day: July (31.7 °C) and August (30.2 °C). Nights average below 0 °C in November–March (-10.3–-1 °C). About 546 mm of rain falls in a year, on 80 days; May is the wettest month (83 mm) and January the driest (13 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January-1-10.3134
February1.6-9.6185
March8.7-3326
April14.22679
May21.89.98311
June29.317678
July31.719.7689
August30.218.4597
September26.314.5506
October16.55.9416
November8.7-1194
December1.8-7.4295

Average of the daily highs and lows, rain per month and days with at least 1 mm (ERA5 via Open-Meteo, the same grid cell as the frost dates).

Planted in autumn

CropWhen to plant
Bearded Irisby 24 September
Crocus24 September – 19 November
Daffodil24 September – 19 November
Garlic24 September – 19 November
Grape hyacinthby 24 September
Helleboreby 24 September
Hyacinth24 September – 19 November
Lilyby 24 September
Ornamental onionby 24 September
Peonyby 24 September
Saffronby 24 September
Snowdropby 24 September
Tulip24 September – 19 November
Wild garlicby 24 September

From a month before the first autumn frost, so the roots grow before winter, to the late-planting limit on each crop’s page (about two weeks before the ground freezes, by ten years of weather).