When to Dig Up Dahlias, Cannas and Gladiolus in North Dakota
In North Dakota, dig all three. Dahlia tubers, canna rhizomes and gladiolus corms will not survive a winter in ground where the coldest month at Fargo…
Gardening in North Dakota
Everything we have worked out for North Dakota: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Fargo, the last spring freeze runs May 4 to May 15 and the first fall freeze runs September 25 to October 5, USDA zones 3a-4b, 2,673 growing degree days in the year.
Garlic does well: 30.4 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in North Dakota: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
How Late Can You Plant Trees and Shrubs in Fall in North Dakota?
The safe target for fall planting in North Dakota is August 14 to August 24, which is six weeks before the first fall frost of September 25 to October 5…
When to Mulch Strawberries and Perennials for Winter in North Dakota
Wait for the ground, not the calendar. NOAA’s 1991-2020 normals for the Fargo airport station put the first fall freeze between September 25 and October…
When to Winterize Sprinklers and Outdoor Faucets in North Dakota
North Dakota doesn’t leave much margin. The mean daily minimum in the coldest month is 0.2°F at the Fargo reference station, according to NOAA’s…
Hedge Plants for North Dakota: What Holds, and What Only Looks Hardy
Of the 12 hedge species documented on this site, six hold across all of North Dakota.
How High Can a Hedge Be in North Dakota? What the Law Actually Says
North Dakota has no statewide hedge height law. No statute in the North Dakota Century Code sets a maximum height for a hedge, a shrub row, or a living…
What Eats Carrot in North Dakota, and When
North Dakota’s short growing season limits how much time any single insect has to build up numbers on a carrot bed, but the ones that do show up feed at…
What Eats Potato in North Dakota, and When
Only one insect on North Dakota’s documented pest list actually eats potato: the Colorado potato beetle.
What Do Homes in North Dakota Cool With?
North Dakota homes cool mostly with central air, but the state still leans harder on window units and mini-splits than you’d guess from a place known…
Roof Snow Load, Wind Speed and Ice Barrier Rules in North Dakota
Explains North Dakota’s Fargo-based ground snow load, wind speed and ice barrier rules, and how each figure translates into permit and roofing decisions.