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Planting Calendar for Bigfork, MT | Almanac.com
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Planting Calendar for Bigfork, MT

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The planting calendar below tells you when to plant in the SPRING and also plant in the FALL, based on your zip code or postal code.

Spring Planting Calendar

Our spring planting calendar starts with the very first dates that you can plant (based on the last spring frost). But if you've missed these dates, no worries! This is why we've added "last planting dates" to our spring calendar; this is meant to help new gardeners understand that if they missed the first spring planting window, they could still get crops in the ground.

In fact, many crops with short maturity times (such as radishes) can be succession planted all the way through the summer in northern areas. However, note that some cool-seasons crops such as kale and lettuce do not grow well in hot temperatures, which can cause bolting issues.  For some gardeners, especially in the South, a break to avoid summer heat is needed, but they can start once the heat has passed. 

The dates provided are based on the number of weeks before or after frost, so we can provide a unique calendar to every user in the country. Thus, several crops (especially similar crops) may appear to have the same date. Kale and lettuce, for example, or dates for starting seeds, like broccoli and cabbage. 

Fall Planting Calendar

When we say "fall," we really mean planting in summer in time for a fall harvest. Think of this as a second summer! It's easy to keep the crops going if you've already prepared the soil! 

Many crops that would be started indoors for a spring crop can just be plunked into the soil directly for a fall crop. Not only is the soil already warm but also there are less pests and it tends to be rainier so you don't need to water as often. Some fall vegetables need to be harvested by the first frost, but many are frost-tolerant and even taste better after a kiss of fall frost!

See each plant's individual Growing Guide for more specific planting, plant care, and harvesting information.

Specifically, on the charts, there are different columns labeled as follows:

  1. Start Seeds Indoors: When to sow seeds indoors to get an early start on the season.
  2. Plant Seedlings Outdoors: When to put small seedlings that you grew indoors (OR starter plants that you bought at a garden nursery) in the outdoor soil.
  3. Start Seeds Outdoors: When to plant seeds directly into the outdoor soil.
  4. Last Date to Plant: You may plant any time from the "start seeds" dates until this "last date." Don't wait any longer, or the crop won't have time to get to harvest before fall/winter frosts.

The "Moon Dates" indicate the best planting dates based on Moon phases. You can learn more about this age-old technique below.

When N/A appears in the chart, that starting method is typically not recommended, although it is likely still possible. 

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Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on May 18 (at CRESTON, MT climate station, elevation 2936 feet).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds IndoorsPlant Seedlings
or Transplants
Start Seeds OutdoorsLast Date to Plant
ArugulaFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-25
Frost Apr 27-May 11
Moon May 7-11
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 20-23
Aug 23
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost May 4-18
Moon May 4-6
May 18
BasilFrost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 8-20
Frost Jun 1-15
Moon Jun 6-15
Frost Jun 1-15
Moon Jun 6-15
Aug 9
BeetsN/AFrost May 4-18
Moon May 4-6
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 24-27
Jun 1
Bell PeppersFrost Mar 8-23
Frost Jun 1-8
Moon Jun 6-8
N/AJun 28
Bok ChoyFrost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 8-20
Frost Jun 1-8
Moon Jun 6-8
Frost Jun 1-8
Moon Jun 6-8
Jun 29
BroccoliFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-25
Frost May 4-18
Moon May 7-18
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 20-23
Jul 19
Brussels SproutsFrost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 8-20
Frost May 4-18
Moon May 7-18
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 20-23
Jun 14
CabbageFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-25
Frost May 4-18
Moon May 7-18
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 20-23
Jun 7
CantaloupesFrost Apr 27-May 11
Moon May 7-11
Frost May 18-Jun 1
Moon May 18-23
Frost May 25-Jun 1
Jun 14
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 24-May 4
Jul 12
CauliflowerFrost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 8-20
Frost May 11-25
Moon May 11-23
N/AJul 12
CeleryFrost Feb 23-Mar 8
Moon Feb 23-24
Frost May 25-Jun 8
Moon Jun 6-8
Frost May 18
Moon May 18
Jul 12
ChivesFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-25
Frost Apr 27-May 4
Frost Apr 27-May 4
Jul 26
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost May 18-Jun 1
Moon May 18-23
Jun 8
CollardsFrost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 8-20
Frost May 4-18
Moon May 7-18
Frost Apr 27-May 4
Jul 12
CucumbersFrost Apr 27-May 4
Frost May 25-Jun 8
Moon Jun 6-8
Frost Jun 1-8
Moon Jun 6-8
Jul 12
DillN/AN/AFrost May 11-Jun 1
Moon May 11-23
Jul 26
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost Jun 1-8
Moon Jun 6-8
Jun 14
EggplantsFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-25
Frost Jun 1-8
Moon Jun 6-8
N/AJul 12
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 20-23
Jun 1
FennelFrost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 8-20
Frost May 25-Jun 1
Frost May 18-Jun 1
Moon May 18-23
Jul 5
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost May 25-Jun 15
Moon Jun 6-15
Jul 12
Honeydew MelonsFrost Apr 27-May 4
Frost Jun 1-8
Moon Jun 6-8
Frost Jun 1-8
Moon Jun 6-8
Jun 21
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Mar 8-23
Frost Jun 1-8
Moon Jun 6-8
N/A
KaleFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-25
Frost May 4-18
Moon May 7-18
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 20-23
Jun 1
KohlrabiFrost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 8-20
Frost Apr 27-May 4
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 20-23
Jun 1
LeeksFrost Mar 8-23
Frost Apr 27-May 11
Moon May 7-11
N/AJun 7
LettuceFrost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 8-20
Frost Apr 27-May 4
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 20-23
Jun 1
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 20-23
Frost Jun 1-8
Moon Jun 6-8
Frost Jun 1-15
Moon Jun 6-15
Jul 12
OnionsN/AFrost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 24-May 4
N/AJun 14
OreganoFrost Mar 8-Apr 6
Moon Mar 24-25
Frost May 25-Jun 8
Moon Jun 6-8
N/AJul 12
ParsleyFrost Mar 8-23
Frost May 25-Jun 8
Moon Jun 6-8
Frost Apr 20-May 25
Moon Apr 20-23, May 7-23
Jul 5
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 24-27
Jun 14
PeasN/AN/AFrost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 20-23
Jun 1
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 24-May 4
Jul 12
PumpkinsFrost Apr 27-May 11
Moon May 7-11
Frost Jun 1-8
Moon Jun 6-8
Frost Jun 1-8
Moon Jun 6-8
Jun 7
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 24-27
Jul 26
RosemaryFrost Feb 23-Mar 8
Moon Feb 23-24
Frost Jun 1-8
Moon Jun 6-8
N/AJul 26
SageFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-25
Frost May 25-Jun 8
Moon Jun 6-8
N/AJul 5
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 24-May 4
Jun 14
SpinachFrost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 8-20
Frost Apr 27-May 4
Frost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 20-23
Jun 1
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost Jun 1-15
Moon Jun 6-15
Jul 5
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Jun 1-15
Moon Jun 1-5
Jun 7
Swiss ChardFrost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 8-20
Frost May 4-18
Moon May 7-18
Frost Apr 27-May 18
Moon May 7-18
Jun 1
ThymeFrost Mar 8-23
Frost May 25-Jun 1
N/AJun 28
TomatillosFrost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 8-20
Frost Jun 1-15
Moon Jun 6-15
N/AJul 5
TomatoesFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-25
Frost Jun 1-8
Moon Jun 6-8
N/AJun 21
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Apr 20-27
Moon Apr 24-27
Aug 23
WatermelonsFrost Apr 27-May 11
Moon May 7-11
Frost Jun 1-8
Moon Jun 6-8
Frost May 25-Jun 1
Jun 21
Winter SquashFrost Apr 27-May 4
Frost May 25-Jun 8
Moon Jun 6-8
Frost Jun 1-8
Moon Jun 6-8
May 31
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Apr 27-May 4
Frost May 25-Jun 8
Moon Jun 6-8
Frost Jun 1-8
Moon Jun 6-8
Jul 19

Planting Dates for Fall

On average, your first fall frost occurs on September 20 (at CRESTON, MT climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Aug 2-Sep 6
Moon Aug 4-19
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Jun 28-Jul 26
Moon Jun 28-Jul 4, Jul 22-26
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Jul 12-Aug 2
Moon Jul 12-21
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Jun 21-28
Moon Jun 21
Frost Jul 12-26
Moon Jul 12-21
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost May 31-Jun 14
Moon Jun 6-14
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Jun 21-28
Moon Jun 21
Frost Jul 12-19
Moon Jul 12-19
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Jul 5-12
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jun 14-21
Moon Jun 14-21
Frost Jun 28-Jul 5
Moon Jul 5
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Jun 28-Jul 26
Moon Jul 5-21
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Jun 21-Jul 5
Moon Jun 21
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Oct 4-18
Moon Oct 18
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Jul 5-19
Moon Jul 5-19
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Jul 12-26
Moon Jul 12-21
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Jul 19-Aug 9
Moon Jul 19-21, Aug 4-9
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Jul 12-26
Moon Jul 12-21
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Jul 19-Aug 9
Moon Jul 19-21, Aug 4-9
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Jul 12-26
Moon Jul 12-21
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Aug 9-23
Moon Aug 20-23
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Aug 2-23
Moon Aug 4-19
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Jul 12-26
Moon Jul 12-21
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Jul 19-Aug 2
Moon Jul 22-Aug 2
N/A50Frost-tolerant
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