Variety fit — South Dakota
Can I grow Brooks sweet cherry in South Dakota?
The verdict
Maybe — with caveats
- Your typical 1196 chill hours meet this variety's needs, but no published hardiness range exists for it, so we can't confirm it survives your winters.
Based on South Dakota’s main growing area (57104): zone 5a, ~1,196 chill hours. Your exact site may differ — check your ZIP.
The numbers
| Brooks chill requirement | 500 chill hours |
|---|---|
| South Dakota average chill (57104) | 1,196 hours (813–1,346 across 10 winters) |
| South Dakota zone (57104) | USDA zone 5a |
Better sweet cherry choices for South Dakota
These meet South Dakota’s chill hours and zone comfortably:
Keep checking
Or the same verdict for another region:
Planting a Brooks in South Dakota? Get its care calendar for your exact ZIP code, starting with this month’s tasks for one tree, free.
Save your first tree freeQuestions
- Can I grow Brooks sweet cherry in South Dakota?
- Possibly — Your typical 1196 chill hours meet this variety's needs, but no published hardiness range exists for it, so we can't confirm it survives your winters.
Planting a Brooks? Gear that helps
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Before you plantMySoil mail-in soil test kitLab-grade pH and nutrient analysis with amendment recommendations — worth doing before you plant.View on Amazon →First-year wateringTreegator slow-release watering bag20 gallons drips over 5–9 hours — the easiest way to keep a first-year tree consistently watered.View on Amazon →Bark protectionExpandable trunk protectors (5-pack)Stops rabbit, vole, and mower damage on young bark — cheap insurance for a new orchard.View on Amazon →
Sources
- [1] Open-Meteo / Copernicus ERA5. Historical Weather API (hourly 2m temperature) — accessed July 2026
- [2] USDA / PRISM (Oregon State University). 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map — accessed July 2026
- [3] Dave Wilson Nursery. Cherries — DWN Variety Finder product list — accessed July 2026