When to plant asparagus in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

March 20 – April 3

Transplant outdoors · typical Sioux Falls year

Climate basis: NOAA station Sioux Falls, SD (USW00014944), 2 mi (3 km) from downtown Sioux Falls (ZCTA 57104 centroid), elevation 1430 ft, on the 1991–2020 climate normals. Plant asparagus crowns from approximately the dates above, anchored to the median last spring 32°F freeze (May 1). One year in ten still freezes after May 14.

Last spring freezeMay 11-in-10 after May 14
First fall freezeOctober 61-in-10 before Sep 23
Frost-free season157 daysmedian at 32°F
Hard freeze, 28°Apr 22Oct 17kills even hardy greens
USDA zone5a-20 to -15°F winter low not frost timing

The Sioux Falls year

Transplant outdoorsMar 20 – Apr 3
  • indoors under lights
  • in the garden
  • frost-free season
  • 1-in-10 years still freeze to May 14
Asparagus in Sioux Falls · freeze context from Sioux Falls, SD, 1991–2020 normals.

Every method, with its sources

Transplant outdoors

Mar 20 – Apr 3

Purdue: hardy — plant crowns 4–6 weeks before the last spring frost. Anchored to the median last spring freeze (May 1). Purdue University Extension

Start seeds indoors

Not calculated

The cited extension guides do not time an indoor seed-starting window for this crop.

Direct-sow outdoors

Not calculated

Home plantings start from 1-year crowns; seed-started asparagus adds a year and is not timed by the cited guide.

Fall planting

Not calculated

No source-backed fall planting rule exists for this crop in the registry, so no fall window is calculated.

Variety assumption: A long-lived perennial; do not harvest the planting year, lightly the second year, fully from the third.

These windows describe typical years (1991–2020 climate normals), not this year's forecast. Freezes happen outside them — especially in frost pockets, valleys, and urban edges. Watch the forecast before committing tender plants.

This week, not a typical year:
Crop rule sources (1)

Keep exploring