When to Harvest Garlic in Montana, and How to Cure It
Montana garlic is ready to lift when the lower third to half of the leaves have browned off while the top leaves stay green, usually landing in July…
Gardening in Montana
Everything we have worked out for Montana: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Billings, the last spring freeze runs April 29 to May 10 and the first fall freeze runs October 1 to October 14, USDA zones 3a-6a, 2,855 growing degree days in the year.
Garlic does well: 30.4 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in Montana: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
When to Pick Apples in Montana, and How Long They Keep
Apples in Montana come off the tree anywhere from late August to mid-October, depending on variety and how close you are to the state’s first fall frost.
Does Insulation Keep a Home in Montana Cool?
Yes, insulation earns its keep in Montana summers, but here summer is the smaller half of the story.
Does a Wall in Montana Need a Vapor Barrier?
Yes. Montana sits entirely in IECC climate zone 6B, and under the 2021 International Residential Code, that zone falls outside the exception that waives…
Heating With Pellets in Montana: What a Winter Takes
A Montana winter run on pellets is a long, cold haul rather than a quick top-up between mild days.
Trees, Shrubs and Perennials for Montana: What Will Not Survive
Montana’s hardiness range runs from zone 3a in the high mountain valleys to zone 6a along the milder river bottoms, and that spread decides almost…
How Much Insulation Does a Home in Montana Need?
Montana sits entirely inside IECC climate zone 6B, with no county exceptions to track down.
When to Sow Beets in Montana
Beets go into Montana ground about two to three weeks before the last spring frost, which for the state’s mildest valley lands falls between April 29 and…
When Can You Turn the Heat Off in Montana?
Montana never fully powers down. June comes closest to a quiet month, but it still adds up to roughly 170 combined heating and cooling degree days, not…
Will Sweet Corn Ripen in Montana?
Yes, in most seasons sweet corn can ripen in Montana’s Billings valley, but the timing is tighter than gardeners moving from a milder climate might expect.