Vegetables to Grow in South Dakota

South Dakota, which falls into USDA hardiness zone 4, is known for its harsh winters, reaching lows of -35 degrees F across the state. Despite this fact, many varieties of vegetables can be successfully grown there. When planting vegetables in South Dakota, it is important to read the package and learn how long it takes the vegetable to reach maturity. In the northern part of the state, a vegetable that will take 120 days to harvest will not be a good choice. Look for labels that describe the vegetable as "heat-tolerant" or "widely adapted." "Frost tolerant" varieties are a good choice for spring.

Several types of lettuce exist: Leaf, Romaine, Butterhead or Bibb, and Crisphead, or iceberg. Crisphead lettuce needs long, cool summers, and is not ideal for South Dakota. Look for "slow to bolt" or "bolt-resistant" on the package or description. Heat tolerant varieties also work best for summer growing.

Tomatoes grow well in South Dakota. Determinate or bush varieties that produce all of their fruit at the same time are best for canning. Indeterminate varieties that produce fruit over a longer period and are good for eating fresh. Paste, Plum and Roma tomatoes can be canned or used fresh. For the best flavor, choose a late-season variety of tomato such as Beefsteak, Big Red or Golden Boy, as opposed to an early season variety.

Long-day or day-neutral onion varieties grow best in South Dakota. Some examples are Candy, Superstar, Copra, and Walla Walla Sweet. If you plan to store onions, yellow typically have the longest storage life, followed by red, white, Spanish and sweet.

In South Dakota, look for hardy varieties of tomatoes to plant that can survive cooler weather. All-male hybrids such as Jersey Giant and Jersey King can be good choices. Martha Washington and Viking types produce less asparagus and may be susceptible to more diseases, but they are widely available and hardy. California varieties such as UC 157 do not grow well in South Dakota, as they are less hardy than other asparagus types.

Both broccoli and cauliflower can be difficult to grow in South Dakota because of warm spring weather. Sprouting broccoli is more heat-tolerant than other types. Do not choose varieties that are designed to grow well in the Northeast. The best plan for cauliflower and broccoli is to grow small, young transplants during spring.

Beans are generally a good choice for South Dakota. Wait to plant Lima beans until the soil has warmed to 60-65 degrees F. Pole beans require trellising and have a longer harvest period than bush beans. Plant new bush bean seeds every two to three weeks. French beans should be picked every two to three days.