What to plant this week in Sioux Falls, SD
With average last frost just eight days away in Sioux Falls, late April is the final window to get transplants like basil and peppers into your soil before temperatures fluctuate wildly. While current harvest lists are mostly empty, now is the strategic time to harden off seedlings for those summer crops that will ripen between May 8 and October 8.
The next 7 days
Sioux Falls, SDGrowing in Sioux Falls right now
- Protect young starts with row covers overnight; Sioux Falls nights can still dip near freezing even in late April despite the 'frost-free' average.
- The city's heavy clay soil drains slowly, so amend planting beds with compost immediately to prevent waterlogging before your first major rain event.
- Watch wind speeds carefully when transplanting delicate herbs like shiso or thyme; the local prairie winds can easily snap tender stems without staking support.
- Take advantage of the short window to plant garlic now for a fall harvest, as this is still within the ideal planting season before ground freeze.
Sow this week
No direct sowing windows open this week.
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
46 crops- Basil
- Beefsteak Tomato
- Bell Pepper
- Borage
- Brussels Sprouts
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Celery
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Dahlia
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Habanero Pepper
- Honeydew Melon
- Leek
- Lima Bean
- Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Nasturtium
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Parsnip
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- Pumpkin
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Tomatillo
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Begin succession sowing quick-maturing crops like Bush Beans or Lettuce to extend your harvest before the first frost on October 8.
- Apply a thick layer of straw or leaf mulch around perennial roots and Brassicas like Brussels Sprouts to protect them from early cold snaps.
- Prune back any leggy Summer Savory or Garden Verbena now to encourage fresh growth once temperatures stabilize after the frost.
- Start planning your spring garden by ordering seeds for crops that need a long head start, such as Garlic for next fall planting.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for early aphid colonies on newly transplanted brassicas like Brussels sprouts and cabbages as temperatures stabilize above 50°F.
- Monitor for cutworms around base stems of young sunflowers and zucchini; hand-picking is most effective during cool, overcast mornings typical of this season.
- Check drainage areas for slugs that thrive in the damp clay soil before your first significant spring rainfall arrives.
Watering this week
Reduce watering frequency but increase volume deeply to help plants build frost resistance before the October chill sets in.
Harvest Garlic now if it has finished curing to ensure you get a full bulb before the ground freezes hard.
Sioux Falls gardening questions
3Can I start my tomato seeds indoors now?
Yes, beefsteak and yellow summer squash tomatoes are ready to be started indoors immediately, giving them a head start for their May 8th frost date. Keep lights on for 14-16 hours daily until the last frost passes.
When should I plant my watermelon seeds outdoors?
Wait until after May 8th when the danger of frost has officially passed, as watermelons need consistent warmth to thrive in our Zone 5a climate. Direct sow them into well-warmed soil rather than transplanting seedlings.
Is it too early to plant potatoes this week?
You can plant potatoes soon after the ground thaws completely, aiming for a few weeks before that May 8th date if possible. Choose varieties suited for our shorter growing season to ensure harvest before late October frost.
Other cities in zone 5a
6See the full zone 5a guide → · Plan your Sioux Falls garden in SproutGuide →