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Billings, Montana · vegetable planting calendar
What to plant now in Billings
This month's sowing list for Billings, what is ready to pick, when to plant the favourites, the planting year at a glance and the local frost dates.
October
1 vegetable to sow or plant now
1 of them are at their best time to start. The last frost is usually around May 17, and frost is unlikely after about May 22.
Sow or plant in Billings in October
Start seeds indoors
Nothing this month.
Direct sow
Nothing this month.
Transplant
- Garlic
Last month to start: garlic.
Ready to pick in October
- Arugula
- Beets
- Bok choy
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Carrot
- Cauliflower
- Celeriac
- Celery
- Chives
- Cilantro
- Dill
- Kale
- Leek
- Lettuce
- Parsley
- Parsnip
- Potato
- Radish
- Scallions
- Spinach
- Strawberry
- Swiss chard
- Turnip
Coming up in November
Nothing new starts in November. This month's list carries on.
When to plant the favourites in Billings
Tomatoes
Start seeds indoors: April to May.
Transplant: June.
Pick: August to September.
First pick about 17 weeks after starting.
Potatoes
Plant: May to July.
Best time to start: May to July.
Pick: July to October.
First pick about 10 weeks after starting.
Garlic
Plant: September to October.
Best time to start: September to October.
Pick: June to August.
First pick about 40 weeks after starting.
Lettuce
Direct sow: April to August.
Best time to start: April to June and August.
Pick: June to November.
First pick about 6 weeks after starting.
Carrots
Direct sow: April to August.
Best time to start: April to July.
Pick: July to November.
First pick about 7 weeks after starting.
Bush beans
Direct sow: June to July.
Best time to start: June to July.
Pick: August to September.
First pick about 8 weeks after starting.
Onions
Start seeds indoors: February to April.
Transplant: April to June.
Best time to start: April to June.
Pick: August to September.
First pick about 20 weeks after starting.
Strawberries
Plant: April to June.
Best time to start: April to June.
Pick: August to January.
First pick about 15 weeks after starting.
Winter squash
Start seeds indoors: May.
Direct sow: June.
Transplant: June.
Best time to start: May.
Pick: August to September.
First pick about 15 weeks after starting.
Zucchini
Start seeds indoors: May to July.
Direct sow: June to July.
Transplant: June to July.
Best time to start: June.
Pick: July to September.
First pick about 7 weeks after starting.
The planting year in Billings
- Start seeds indoors
- Direct sow
- Transplant
- Pick
- Paler: possible, but not the best time
| Vegetable | O | N | D | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | First pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arugula | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 4 weeks | ||||||
| Basil | T | S | P | about 7 weeks | |||||||||
| Beets | S | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | |||||||
| Bell pepper | T | P | about 18 weeks | ||||||||||
| Bok choy | S | S | S | S | S | about 5 weeks | |||||||
| Broccoli | T | P | P | T | P | P | about 12 weeks | ||||||
| Brussels sprouts | T | P | about 19 weeks | ||||||||||
| Bush beans | S | S | about 8 weeks | ||||||||||
| Cabbage | T | P | P | P | P | P | about 13 weeks | ||||||
| Cantaloupe | P | about 8 weeks | |||||||||||
| Carrot | S | S | S | S | S | about 7 weeks | |||||||
| Cauliflower | T | P | P | about 14 weeks | |||||||||
| Celeriac | T | T | T | P | P | about 21 weeks | |||||||
| Celery | T | T | T | P | P | P | about 19 weeks | ||||||
| Chives | T | T | S | S | S | S | P | about 8 weeks | |||||
| Cilantro | S | S | about 6 weeks | ||||||||||
| Cucumber | T | S | S | about 7 weeks | |||||||||
| Dill | S | S | S | S | about 5 weeks | ||||||||
| Eggplant | T | P | about 18 weeks | ||||||||||
| Garlic | P | P | about 40 weeks | ||||||||||
| Hot pepper | T | P | about 19 weeks | ||||||||||
| Kale | S | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | |||||||
| Leek | T | T | P | P | P | P | about 18 weeks | ||||||
| Lettuce | S | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | |||||||
| Onion | T | T | P | P | P | about 20 weeks | |||||||
| Parsley | T | T | S | S | S | S | about 7 weeks | ||||||
| Parsnip | S | about 11 weeks | |||||||||||
| Peas | S | S | S | about 9 weeks | |||||||||
| Pole beans | S | S | about 9 weeks | ||||||||||
| Potato | P | P | P | about 10 weeks | |||||||||
| Radish | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 3 weeks | ||||||
| Runner beans | S | about 10 weeks | |||||||||||
| Scallions | S | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | |||||||
| Spinach | S | S | S | about 7 weeks | |||||||||
| Strawberry | P | P | P | about 15 weeks | |||||||||
| Sweet corn | T | S | P | about 10 weeks | |||||||||
| Swiss chard | S | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | |||||||
| Tomato | T | T | P | about 17 weeks | |||||||||
| Turnip | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | ||||||||
| Watermelon | P | about 7 weeks | |||||||||||
| Winter squash | T | S | about 15 weeks | ||||||||||
| Zucchini | T | S | S | about 7 weeks |
The chart starts at October. "First pick" is the usual time from starting to the first harvest.
Choose a quick-maturing (early) variety of: cantaloupe and watermelon.
Billings season by season
Spring March to May
Time to start: arugula, basil, beets, bell pepper, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, chives, cilantro, cucumber, dill, eggplant, hot pepper, kale, lettuce, parsley, peas, potato, radish, scallions, spinach, strawberry, sweet corn, Swiss chard, tomato, turnip, winter squash and zucchini.
Last chance for: bell pepper, cilantro, eggplant, hot pepper, spinach and turnip.
Summer June to August
Time to start: bell pepper, Brussels sprouts, bush beans, cantaloupe, cauliflower, cilantro, eggplant, hot pepper, parsnip, pole beans, runner beans, turnip and watermelon.
Last chance for: basil, beets, bell pepper, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bush beans, cabbage, cantaloupe, carrot, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, cilantro, cucumber, dill, eggplant, hot pepper, kale, leek, lettuce, onion, parsley, parsnip, peas, pole beans, potato, runner beans, scallions, strawberry, sweet corn, Swiss chard, tomato, turnip, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.
Fall September to November
Time to start: garlic and spinach.
Last chance for: arugula, chives, garlic, radish and spinach.
Winter December to February
Time to start: celeriac, celery, leek and onion.
Last chance for: nothing closes.
Frost in Billings
- Last frost, most years
- around May 17
- Frost is unlikely after
- about May 22
- First frost, most years
- around October 4
- Frost-free days in a year
- about 140
The end of frost is not planting time. Tender plants also need warm nights, which usually come two to four weeks later, and a week or two of hardening off first, so go by the months for each vegetable above. A low corner where cold air settles runs later. Tomatoes, peppers, beans, zucchini, winter squash and basil are the ones to hold back or cover.
Harder to grow in Billings
Needs a greenhouse or a warm, sheltered spot: fava beans, okra and sweet potato.
Too cold here: rutabaga.
Questions about planting in Billings
What can I plant now in Billings?
In October, 1 vegetables can be sown or planted in Billings, including garlic. The full list is at the top of this page and changes every month.
When should I plant tomatoes in Billings?
In Billings, sow tomatoes indoors from April to May and transplant them in June. Picking runs from August to September.
When should I plant potatoes in Billings?
In Billings, plant potatoes from May to July. The best time to start is from May to July. Picking runs from July to October.
When should I plant garlic in Billings?
In Billings, plant garlic from September to October. The best time to start is from September to October. Picking runs from June to August.
When is the last frost in Billings?
In most years the last frost in Billings comes around May 17. Frost is unlikely after about May 22, though tender vegetables go out later still, once nights are warm. The first frost of the cold season usually arrives around October 4.
Which vegetables are quickest to grow in Billings?
The quick ones are radish (about 3 weeks), arugula (about 4 weeks), bok choy (about 5 weeks), beets (about 6 weeks), cilantro (about 6 weeks), lettuce (about 6 weeks), scallions (about 6 weeks) and Swiss chard (about 6 weeks). The time is from starting to the first pick.
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These dates are estimates for general guidance, based on the usual weather in Billings. Seasons vary from year to year, so check the seed packet and local advice as well.
Temperatures: Source: Meteostat and its data providers (CC BY 4.0). Crop temperature ranges checked against FAO ECOCROP (CC BY 4.0).