Frost dates for Dunkirk, MT
When the last spring frost and first fall frost usually come, and when to plant, from 30 years of NOAA weather records.
Last spring frost
May 23
typical year
Safe to plant
June 8
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
September 14
typical year
Growing season
112 days
frost-free, typical year
Frost watch this week
Tonight's and the next six nights' lows from the National Weather Service forecast for the station's location. Frost: 32°F or colder. Possible frost: 33–36°F, mostly in low spots on clear, still nights.
When to plant
Counted from this page's frost dates. Warm-season crops wait for the safe-to-plant date.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool-season crops | |||
| Peas | – | Apr 25 – May 9 | – |
| Spinach | – | Apr 11 – May 2 | Jul 20 – Aug 3 |
| Lettuce | – | Apr 25 – May 16 | Jul 20 – Aug 3 |
| Radishes | – | Apr 25 – Jun 6 | Aug 3 – 17 |
| Onions | – | Apr 25 – May 9 | – |
| Potatoes | – | May 2 – 16 | – |
| Carrots | – | May 2 – 23 | Jun 22 – Jul 6 |
| Beets | – | Apr 25 – May 9 | Jul 6 – 20 |
| Kale | Mar 14 – 28 | Apr 25 – May 9 | Jul 6 – 20 |
| Broccoli | Mar 14 – 28 | May 9 – 23 | Jul 6 – 20 |
| Cabbage | Feb 28 – Mar 14 | Apr 25 – May 9 | Jul 6 – 20 |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 3 – 24 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Apr 13 – 27 | Jun 8 – 22 | – |
| Peppers | Apr 6 – 20 | Jun 15 – 29 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | Jun 8 – 29 | – |
| Zucchini | – | Jun 8 – Jul 6 | – |
| Pumpkins | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Green beans | – | Jun 8 – Jul 6 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 8 – Jul 6 | – |
| Basil | May 4 – 18 | Jun 15 – 22 | – |
Onions: from sets. Green beans: until 10 weeks before the first fall frost. Garlic: harvest next summer.
The year at a glance
Start indoors Plant outside Fall planting
The chance of frost, by date
| 1 year in 10 | Half of years | 9 years in 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring frost after | June 8 | May 23 | May 12 |
| Fall frost before | September 1 | September 14 | September 26 |
Frost here means 32°F or colder. Read across: in 1 year in 10, spring frost carries on past the first date, which is why that date is the safe-to-plant date.
Hard freeze (28°F)
A hard freeze kills most garden plants, even hardy ones. The last one in spring usually comes around May 10 (May 22 in a late year), and the first one in fall around September 24.
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station DUNKIRK 19NNE, MT US (USC00242550), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 2 zip codes, all within 19 miles:
59444, 59545
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.