Burke County, in North Dakota, sits in USDA hardiness zone 4a — a band that supports both cool-season staples and warm-season crops chosen to fit the local frost window.
The conditions favor sunflower, potato, american elm, and rhubarb, among others — though every individual site edits that list with its own soil, sun, and drainage.
Grounded in USDA PHZM 2023 · Growable Ground suitability scoring · NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals
Burke County holds more than one microclimate.
Soils and elevations shift across Burke County, so your frost dates and drainage aren't the county average. Enter your address and we'll score 1,112 plants against your land's actual soil, sun, and frost.
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
No card required · your full report in seconds
Quick Facts
USDA Zones
4a
Last Hard Freeze (28°F)
Apr 28
County normal — light frosts run a few weeks later
First Hard Freeze (28°F)
Oct 12
County normal — light frosts arrive a few weeks earlier
County Area
706K acres
Hardiness Zone Range
Zone maps are averages across Burke County. Your yard's slope, trees, and frost pockets shift what actually grows — see your land's exact reading.
Soil in Burke County
Across Burke County, the ground is predominantly Mollisols, where Williams, Zahl, and Niobell are the most extensive named soil series. The soil is generally well drained with a loam surface. Topsoil pH runs about 6.7–7.8, neutral. Rainfall drains through hydrologic group C soils.
Soil order
Mollisols
Drainage
Well drained
Prime farmland
2%
Hydric soils
18%
Soil still varies lot by lot — soil types explained.
What Grows in Burke County
Plants matched to Burke County's USDA zones 4a — each links to its full growing profile.
Is it too late to plant in Burke County?
Too late for some crops, right on time for others — a growing season is a sequence, not a deadline. Cool-season crops can go in from around Mar 31; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Apr 28 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Oct 12 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. The tail of the season still works: sixty-day crops into late summer, quick greens after, garlic last of all.
Growing Challenges in North Dakota
What an experienced grower plans around here — each one has a move.
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.
For cultivar selection, pest pressure, and planting-time guidance specific to North Dakota, the NDSU Extension is the authoritative local source.
Safe to Grow Here?
What the federal record shows across Burke County — and how to grow with it.
We checked the federal record across Burke County — 227 documented sites across 4 of the 9 source types we track.
The most significant on record: 1 Toxics Release Inventory facility. Active industrial facilities reporting chemical releases to air, water, and land.
There's a meaningful federal record across Burke County — worth a look before you plant food, not a reason to hold back from growing. Proximity to a documented site is information, not a diagnosis of any one yard. A soil test before new food beds is the sensible precaution here, and the map shows exactly which sites sit where, so you can see what's actually near you.
Sources: EPA, USGS — 1.8M documented sites tracked nationwide across 9 federal source types.
Environmental Intelligence
Understanding what's nearby helps you make informed decisions about where and how to grow.
Total Sites
227
across Burke County
Risk Level
Elevated
Highest-severity
1 Toxics Release Inventory facility
Sources Checked
across Burke County
Severity Distribution
across Burke County
Highest-Severity Sites
A note from Gnorman
What an experienced grower watches for around here
In and around Burke County, Nitrate runs higher than the national average — 188 sites nearby. That's not a problem with your land — it's information about it.
Nitrate: Nitrate contamination primarily comes from agricultural fertilizer runoff and failing septic systems.
Test well water for nitrate if you rely on a private well for irrigation (EPA standard: 10 mg/L).
Check your specific parcel in Burke County
Get exact proximity distances to contamination sources for your specific parcel — plus soil, sun, drainage, and 1,112 plant recommendations.
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.
25+ data sources analyzed in seconds
Your Specific Parcel Matters
Burke County Average
- ●USDA Zones 4a
- ●Generic soil type for the area
- ●State-average frost dates
YOUR Parcel
- ✓Your exact hardiness zone
- ✓Your SSURGO soil type & pH
- ✓Your sun exposure, cast in 3D
See MY Growing Report
Read your parcel in Burke County
Pull a site-specific report for your exact address in Burke County, North Dakota — soil, sun, drainage, frost risk, and scored plant recommendations.
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.
25+ data sources analyzed in seconds
Key Growing Facts for Burke County, North Dakota
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 4a (USDA PHZM 2023)
- Last Hard Freeze (28°F): Apr 28 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can follow for a few weeks)
- First Hard Freeze (28°F): Oct 12 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals — light frosts can arrive a few weeks earlier)
- Days Between Hard Freezes: ~167 (county normal, NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals)
- County Land Area: 706K acres (US Census TIGER 2025)
Zone data: USDA ARS Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Climate data: NOAA NCEI. County boundaries: US Census TIGER/Line 2025.
Frost dates here are the Burke County average. Low spots and tree cover move them by days on any one yard — see your exact frost windows.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zone is Burke County, North Dakota?
Burke County sits in USDA hardiness zone 4a, per the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Zones reflect average annual extreme minimum temperatures from 1991–2020 weather data.
Is it too late to plant in Burke County?
Too late for some crops, right on time for others — a growing season is a sequence, not a deadline. Cool-season crops can go in from around Mar 31; tender transplants wait until two to three weeks after the last 28°F hard freeze, which lands near Apr 28 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and from midsummer, planting counts back from the first fall freeze around Oct 12 — long-season crops need about 90 days of runway, quick greens only 30. The tail of the season still works: sixty-day crops into late summer, quick greens after, garlic last of all.
When does frost risk typically end in Burke County?
The last hard freeze (28°F) in Burke County typically lands around Apr 28, per NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals — an earlier marker than the light-frost dates many planting charts quote. That marks the hard freeze, not the last light frost — light frosts can still bite for a few more weeks, so tender transplants usually wait another 2–3 weeks.
How long is the growing season in Burke County?
Measured between 28°F hard freezes, Burke County sees about 167 frost-free days — roughly Apr 28 through Oct 12, per NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals. Tender crops get a somewhat shorter practical window, since lighter frosts reach a few weeks past the hard-freeze dates on both ends.
What vegetables grow in Burke County?
Burke County's zone 4a supports a wide range — strong performers include Sunflower, Potato, American Elm, and Rhubarb. What actually takes on any one site comes down to its soil, sun, and drainage, and we score each plant against the real conditions at your address.
Which hardiness zone is Burke County, really?
Officially, Burke County sits in USDA zone 4a (USDA PHZM 2023) — but a zone is a 30-year average of winter's coldest night across an area, and it can't see any one yard. A south-facing slope, a tree line, or a low frost pocket can shift a single site by half a zone either way, which is why neighboring gardeners often quote different numbers. We read the conditions at your exact address — soil, sun, slope, and frost — and score 1,112 plants against what's actually there.
Is the soil safe to grow vegetables in Burke County?
The federal record around Burke County is a meaningful one — 227 documented sites — so a soil test before new food beds is a sensible precaution here, not a reason to hold back from growing. Remember that proximity to a documented site is information, not a diagnosis of any one yard; the contamination map shows exactly what sits where.
Just moved to Burke County — what should I know before planting?
Start with three facts. Burke County sits in USDA zone 4a, which sets what survives winter; the last 28°F hard freeze typically clears around Apr 28, with about 167 frost-free days to work with (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals); and 227 documented sites sit on the federal record here, so a soil test before food beds is the smart first step. From there, matching plants to your actual soil and sun is the fun part.
Everything on this page is a Burke County average. Your yard writes its own version — we read soil, sun, drainage, and frost at your exact address. Try it for 14 days — no card required.
Will It Grow Here?
Zone fit is the first question — each answer below reads North Dakota's frost window, season length, and soil profile against the plant's real requirements.