In the garden now (2 November 2026)
Billings planting calendar
Bars show when each crop can go in and when a planting from that window is ready. The blue band is the frost season, from the average first autumn frost to the average last spring frost. Hover or tap a crop for details.
Sow indoorsSow or plant outdoorsHarvestFrost seasonToday
Swipe sideways to see the whole year →
Dates by crop
| Crop | Sow indoors | Sow / plant outdoors | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 6 – May 11 | Jun 1 – Jul 21 plant out | Jul 31 – Oct 2 |
| Pepper | Apr 2 – May 7 | Jun 11 – Jul 18 plant out | Aug 9 – Oct 2 |
| Eggplant (aubergine) | Apr 8 – May 13 | Jun 17 – Jul 14 plant out | Aug 16 – Oct 2 |
| Cucumber | May 9 – Jun 5 | Jun 6 – Jul 31 sow | Jul 23 – Oct 2 |
| Zucchini (courgette) | May 4 – May 31 | Jun 1 – Aug 4 sow | Jul 17 – Oct 2 |
| Pumpkin and winter squash | May 4 – May 31 | Jun 1 – Jul 1 sow | Aug 22 – Oct 6 |
| Watermelon | May 20 – Jun 16 | Jun 17 – Jul 12 sow | Aug 20 – Oct 2 |
| Sweet corn | – | May 20 – Jul 15 sow | Aug 2 – Oct 2 |
| Green beans | – | Jun 1 – Jul 31 sow | Jul 21 – Oct 2 |
| Peas | – | Apr 2 – Apr 19 sow | Jun 23 – Jul 24 |
| Lettuce | Mar 2 – Mar 30 | Apr 6 – May 9, Aug 19 – Aug 25 sow | Jun 12 – Jul 22, Oct 1 – Oct 17 |
| Spinach | – | Mar 23 – May 7 sow | Jun 6 – Jul 17 |
| Kale | Feb 16 – Mar 23 | Mar 30 – May 29, Aug 12 – Aug 21 sow | Jun 19 – Sep 22, Oct 2 – Nov 21 |
| Cabbage | Feb 18 – Mar 25 | Apr 8 – Apr 29 plant out | Jul 1 – Aug 4 |
| Broccoli | Feb 23 – Mar 30 | Apr 13 – May 9 plant out | Jun 25 – Aug 2 |
| Carrots | – | Apr 13 – Jul 15 sow | Jun 29 – Oct 30 |
| Beets (beetroot) | – | Apr 13 – Jul 15, Aug 12 – Aug 20 sow | Jun 22 – Oct 28 |
| Radishes | – | Mar 30 – May 29, Aug 30 – Sep 12 sow | May 21 – Jul 5, Sep 23 – Oct 21 |
| Onions | Jan 26 – Mar 2 | Apr 6 – Jul 15 plant out | Jul 19 – Oct 7 |
| Garlic | – | Sep 25 – Oct 21 sow | Jun 19 – Jul 9 |
| Potatoes | – | Apr 20 – Jul 2 sow | Jul 20 – Oct 7 |
| Swiss chard | – | Apr 20 – Aug 24 sow | Jun 20 – Oct 28 |
| Basil | Apr 30 – May 28 | Jun 11 – Aug 18 plant out | Jul 8 – Oct 2 |
| Cilantro (coriander) | – | Apr 13 – May 19, Aug 30 – Sep 3 sow | Jun 6 – Jul 20, Oct 9 – Oct 21 |
| Parsley | Feb 18 – Mar 25 | Apr 15 – Jul 15 sow | Jul 3 – Nov 6 |
Dates are for a typical year and the middle of the window is the safest. Sow a little at a time across a window rather than all at once. Cold snaps, heat waves, frost pockets and city warmth all shift the real dates; watch the forecast.
Frost dates in Billings
- Average last spring frost
- May 4
- Late frost (1 year in 10)
- May 18
- Average first autumn frost
- October 7
- Early frost (1 year in 10)
- September 26
- Frost-free growing season
- 155 days
“Average” is the date with an even chance of a later (spring) or earlier (autumn) frost: a night at or below 0 °C (32 °F) at screen height. Tender crops go out a week or two after the spring date, which brings the risk down to about one year in ten.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Billings Intl Ap (4 km from the city centre).
Climate at a glance
- Hardiness zone
- 5a from station records
- Average coldest winter night
- -26°C-16°F
- Warmest month
- July, highs 32°C89°F
- Coldest month
- January, lows -9°C16°F
- Crops with an outdoor window
- 25 of 25
The zone follows the USDA scheme: bands of the average lowest temperature of the year, 10 °F wide, split into a and b halves. Worked out from the coldest night of each year 1991–2020 at the NOAA station. It tells you which perennials survive winter, not when to sow.
Temperature and rain by month
Average highAverage lowRainFreezing point
| Month | High | Low | Mean | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3°C37°F | -9°C16°F | -3°C26°F | 13 mm0.5 in |
| February | 5°C41°F | -8°C18°F | -2°C29°F | 14 mm0.5 in |
| March | 11°C52°F | -3°C26°F | 4°C39°F | 20 mm0.8 in |
| April | 16°C60°F | 1°C33°F | 8°C47°F | 42 mm1.7 in |
| May | 21°C69°F | 6°C42°F | 13°C56°F | 58 mm2.3 in |
| June | 26°C79°F | 10°C51°F | 18°C65°F | 48 mm1.9 in |
| July | 32°C89°F | 14°C57°F | 23°C73°F | 24 mm0.9 in |
| August | 31°C88°F | 13°C55°F | 22°C71°F | 20 mm0.8 in |
| September | 25°C77°F | 7°C45°F | 16°C61°F | 29 mm1.2 in |
| October | 16°C61°F | 1°C34°F | 9°C48°F | 33 mm1.3 in |
| November | 9°C48°F | -4°C24°F | 2°C36°F | 13 mm0.5 in |
| December | 3°C38°F | -8°C17°F | -3°C27°F | 12 mm0.5 in |
Monthly averages 1991–2020 from TerraClimate (about 4 km grid).