Frost dates for Nye #2, 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
June 1
typical year
Safe to plant
June 21
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
September 11
typical year
Growing season
100 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 | – | May 4 – 18 | – |
| Spinach | – | Apr 20 – May 11 | Jul 17 – 31 |
| Lettuce | – | May 4 – 25 | Jul 17 – 31 |
| Radishes | – | May 4 – Jun 15 | Jul 31 – Aug 14 |
| Onions | – | May 4 – 18 | – |
| Potatoes | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Carrots | – | May 11 – Jun 1 | Jun 19 – Jul 3 |
| Beets | – | May 4 – 18 | Jul 3 – 17 |
| Kale | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 4 – 18 | Jul 3 – 17 |
| Broccoli | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 18 – Jun 1 | Jul 3 – 17 |
| Cabbage | Mar 9 – 23 | May 4 – 18 | Jul 3 – 17 |
| Garlic | – | – | Jul 31 – Aug 21 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Apr 26 – May 10 | Jun 21 – Jul 5 | – |
| Peppers | Apr 19 – May 3 | Jun 28 – Jul 12 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | Jun 21 – Jul 12 | – |
| Zucchini | – | Jun 21 – Jul 19 | – |
| Pumpkins | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Green beans | – | Jun 21 – Jul 3 | – |
| Sweet corn | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Basil | May 17 – 31 | Jun 28 – Jul 5 | – |
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 21 | June 1 | May 15 |
| Fall frost before | August 25 | September 11 | 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 15 (June 1 in a late year), and the first one in fall around September 25.
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station NYE #2, MT US (USC00246190), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 3 zip codes, all within 17 miles:
59001, 59052, 59061
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.