State × crop calendar
Clover planting in North Dakota.
- Primary crop
- Zone 4a
- 125-day season
- Last frost May 20
- Forage
- Frost Hardy
Clover planting in North Dakota is shaped by the state's 4a dominant hardiness zone, last frost date around May 20, and a 125-day growing season. Clover is widely grown in North Dakota — commercially significant or common in home gardens and food plots.
Planting dates on this page are climatological estimates from USDA frost-date norms and zone-typical planting offsets. Verify against NDSU Extension for variety- and county-specific guidance.
Planting calendar — 2026
Frost-anchored windows.
Clover · North Dakota · planting calendar
Planting windows shift earlier in southern parts of the state and later in northern parts. Use last frost date in your specific county as the reference.
Planting windows
Earliest → ideal → latest.
Spring planting
CloverEarliest
April 15
Ideal start
April 29
Ideal end
May 27
Latest
June 17
Soil-temp trigger
Frost-seed onto frozen ground in late winter for natural soil incorporation. Fall-seed in southern states for over-winter establishment.Fall planting
CloverEarliest
July 7
Ideal start
July 22
Ideal end
August 6
Latest
August 21
Soil-temp trigger
Frost-seed onto frozen ground in late winter for natural soil incorporation. Fall-seed in southern states for over-winter establishment.Harvest window
Typical start
June 28
Typical end
July 28
Harvest timing varies with planting date and seasonal weather — these dates are typical for the ideal planting window.
Growing notes
Clover grows well in North Dakota's typical climate. North Dakota's 125-day growing season and 4a hardiness zone support reliable production with appropriate variety selection.
Clover is widely grown in North Dakota — commercially significant or common in home gardens and food plots.
Agronomy reference
Clover fundamentals.
Soil-temp minimum
40°F
Soil-temp optimum
50–75°F
Days to maturity
60–90
Water (in/wk)
0.5–1"
Soil pH
6–7
Nitrogen demand
low
Frost-seed in late winter or early spring; can also be fall-planted in southern states. Red clover is biennial; white clover is perennial.
Common pests to watch
- Clover leaf weevil
- Aphids
- Spider mites
Pest pressure varies by region and year. Confirm current outbreaks with NDSU Extension.
Common diseases
- Northern anthracnose
- Crown rot
- Sclerotinia
Resistance varieties shift each year. Check the current variety trial report for your state.
Variety selection
Clover varieties for North Dakota live with your extension.
Variety selection
Variety performance is micro-regional and changes with each year's trial cycle. We don't republish variety lists — instead, we point directly at the source.
NDSU Extension →Search the extension site for “clover variety trial” or “recommended clover varieties” to find the current report.
Yield varies significantly by variety, soil, fertility, and management. Consult your state extension service for variety performance trials in your region.
Clover timing. Live alerts.
Bield Farm ties weather and soil-temperature stations in your county to crop planting thresholds — get notified the day soil temp clears your target window.
Start free trial →