Last Frost Date

Planting planner: Missoula, Montana

Typical last spring frost May 16 (1 spring in 10 later than June 1). Typical first fall frost September 26 (1 fall in 10 earlier than September 12). Growing season about 130 days.

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Frost likely Frost possible Frost unlikely Frost is likely until May 3 and fades out by June 1. It is unlikely from then until September 12, and likely again after October 8. The dashed lines are the typical dates, May 16 and September 26.

Your season is too short for a separate fall planting of cabbage and broccoli: sown late enough to be a fall crop, it wouldn't be ready before the typical first frost. Your spring planting is your harvest.

January

Nothing to start this month.

February

  • February 28 to March 28: Broccoli and cabbage (start seeds indoors)

March

  • March 14 to April 11: Cauliflower (start seeds indoors)
  • March 28 to April 18: Eggplant (start seeds indoors)

April

  • April 4 to 18: Peppers (start seeds indoors)
  • April 11 to 25: Tomatoes (start seeds indoors)
  • April 18 to May 2: Peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, onion sets, turnips (sow outdoors)
  • April 18 to May 2: Broccoli and cabbage (plant out)

May

  • May 2 to 16: Beets, carrots, potatoes, Swiss chard (plant outdoors)
  • May 2 to 16: Cauliflower (plant out)
  • May 16: Snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash (sow outdoors)
  • May 30: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant (plant out)
  • May 30: Melons, winter squash, pumpkins, lima beans (sow outdoors)

June

  • June 30: Snap beans for fall (last date to sow)

July

  • July 4: Carrots for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 5: Cucumbers for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 9: Peas for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 10: Summer squash for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 14: Leaf lettuce and beets for fall (last date to sow)
  • July 24: Turnips and kohlrabi for fall (last date to sow)

August

  • August 3: Spinach for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 13: Radishes for fall (last date to sow)

September

  • September 12: Tomatoes, peppers, squash, melons, cucumbers (watch the forecast)

October

  • October 13 to 20: Garlic (plant cloves)

November

Nothing to start this month.

December

Nothing to start this month.

Dates from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Missoula International Airport (station USW00024153), 4 miles from the center of Missoula. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension GardenNotes #720 (spring), Virginia Cooperative Extension 426-334 (fall crops), University of Minnesota Extension (garlic). Spring bulbs: plant when the soil has cooled to about 50 to 55°F, until a couple of weeks before the ground freezes (University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension). Full details: https://lastfrostdate.com/frost-dates/montana/missoula/

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