Conditional — Some Areas
amaranth (zones 2-11) has limited zone overlap with North Dakota (3a-4b). Only zones 3-4 in the state are suitable.
Your yard isn't the whole zone.
Amaranth is grown as an annual, so your winter zone isn't the deciding factor — your frost-free window is, and slope, trees, and low spots move the last-frost date across a single yard. Enter your address and we'll score amaranth against your parcel's actual frost dates, sun, and soil.
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Zone Comparison
Amaranth Needs
- USDA Zones: 2-11
- Soil pH: 4.3 - 8.5
- Sun: Full Sun
- Drainage: well (dry spells)
- Frost-Free Days: 30+
North Dakota Has
- USDA Zones: 3a-4b
- Last Frost: May 5 - Jun 1
- First Frost: Sep 10 - Oct 1
- Annual Rainfall: 14-22 inches
- Common Soils: Prairie loam, Clay (Red River Valley), Sandy loam
Plant Zone Range (zones 2-11)
Preferred Soil pH
Plant data: USDA PLANTS Database / plant_species_v5.csv. State data: USDA ARS PHZM 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NRCS SSURGO.
When to Plant Amaranth in North Dakota
The frost window
Across North Dakota, the last spring frost clears between May 5 and Jun 1, and the first fall frost lands between Sep 10 and Oct 1 (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Counting from the latest last frost to the earliest first frost, that's a 101-day window you can count on — up to 149 days on a mild site in a kind year.
Frost tenderness
Amaranth is frost-tender — its listed minimum temperature is 44.6°F (USDA PLANTS Database) — so set plants out after the last frost has cleared your local site, not the state's earliest date.
Days to maturity vs. the window
At 90 days to maturity (USDA PLANTS Database), one crop fits North Dakota's 101-day dependable window with 11 days of margin — plant at the front of the window to keep that cushion.
Frost window: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020. Plant timing fields: USDA PLANTS Database. Your site's own frost dates can run earlier or later than the state range — a parcel report pins them down.
Growing Season Fit
Zone compatibility says you can survive winter here. Whether the growing season is long enough — and warm enough — is a different question.
Frost-free days
Amaranth wants 30+ frost-free days; a typical North Dakota site sees ~130 (NOAA Climate Normals). That leaves comfortable headroom for succession planting.
Growing degree days
Amaranth needs ~1200 GDD (base 50°F) to ripen. The state median runs ~2250 GDD (USDA NRCS county aggregates), so North Dakota's typical season clears that easily.
Climate aggregates derive from USDA NRCS county-level hardiness data + Cornell CALS Extension GDD-by-region tables + MSU Extension chill-hours-by-zone (1991-2020 NOAA Climate Normals baseline).
Soil + Drainage Fit
Amaranth likes near-neutral soil (pH 4.3-8.5). That's the common-ground band across North Dakota's prairie loam and clay (red river valley) — a soil test confirms it for your site. Drainage matters: this plant wants well (dry spells). If your North Dakota site is heavier clay or sits in a low spot, raised beds or amendment with compost solve it.
Plant pH and drainage requirements from USDA PLANTS Database. North Dakota soil profile from USDA NRCS SSURGO. Site-specific verification: a 30-minute soil test from your local Extension lab.
Amaranth in North Dakota — Quick Answer
- Verdict: Conditional — Some Areas
- Plant Zones: 2-11 (USDA PLANTS Database)
- State Zones: 3a-4b (USDA ARS PHZM 2023)
- Growing Season: May 5 - Jun 1 to Sep 10 - Oct 1 (NOAA Climate Normals)
- Days to Maturity: 90 days
What Else to Consider
Zone compatibility tells you about winter cold survival — but North Dakota growers also need to think about:
Extreme cold (-40F) and short growing season
Cold-proven varieties plus a high tunnel make North Dakota's short season dependable — northern growers' standard kit.
Persistent wind desiccates plants
A windbreak is the highest-return structure on the northern plains — even a snow fence changes what survives.
Low rainfall in western ND
Out west, drip irrigation and mulch decide the season — set the water system up front.
North Dakota Cooperative Extension
For North Dakota-specific cultivar recommendations, planting calendars, and pest pressure for amaranth, the canonical source is NDSU Extension. Their fact sheets carry the local trial data we can't generalize across 50 states.
Is Amaranth native to North Dakota?
Amaranth is native to parts of the Lower 48, but the USDA PLANTS Database (accessed 2026-07-01) does not document a native range in North Dakota. It can still earn a place in a North Dakota garden — the zone comparison above tells you whether it will thrive.
Looking for plants that belong here? The North Dakota growing guide lists USDA-documented natives for the state.
Native-range data: USDA PLANTS Database state-distribution records, accessed 2026-07-01.
Common Questions About Growing Amaranth in North Dakota
When can I plant Amaranth in North Dakota?
North Dakota's last spring frost clears between May 5 and Jun 1, and the first fall frost lands between Sep 10 and Oct 1 (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Amaranth is frost-tender — its listed minimum temperature is 44.6°F (USDA PLANTS Database) — so wait until the last frost has cleared your specific site before planting out.
Can Amaranth mature before first frost in North Dakota?
Yes — Amaranth matures in 90 days (USDA PLANTS Database), and North Dakota's dependable frost-free window runs 101 days (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020), leaving 11 days of margin. Plant just after last frost and it ripens ahead of the first fall frost.
What hardiness zone is Amaranth grown in across North Dakota?
North Dakota spans USDA hardiness zones 3a-4b (USDA ARS PHZM 2023). Amaranth carries a range of zones 2-11, so the overlap zones are where outdoor growing is most reliable.
How many frost-free days does a typical North Dakota site have?
A typical North Dakota site sees ~130 frost-free days per year (derived from NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). Amaranth needs 30+ frost-free days, so check whether your local microclimate runs above or below the state average before settling on a planting date.
Is Amaranth native to North Dakota?
Amaranth is native to parts of the Lower 48, but the USDA PLANTS Database (accessed 2026-07-01) does not document a native range in North Dakota. It can still earn a place in a North Dakota garden — the zone comparison above tells you whether it will thrive.
How should I amend the soil for Amaranth in North Dakota?
Amaranth prefers pH 4.3-8.5 and well (dry spells) drainage (USDA PLANTS Database). That sits in the common-ground band across North Dakota soils — a 30-minute soil test from a local Extension lab confirms it for your specific site.
Will Amaranth actually grow on my specific land in North Dakota?
State-level zone + climate data is a sketch. A Growable Ground parcel report scores amaranth against your address's exact soil pH, drainage, sun, and frost-date data drawn from USDA SSURGO, NOAA, and PRISM — not state averages.
Check your specific parcel in North Dakota
State-level data is a sketch. Your Growable Ground report scores amaranth against your parcel's exact soil, sun, drainage, and frost data — not zone averages.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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