Fall in zone 4bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 59642 (Meagher County, MT)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Wilsall 8 ENE, MT (20 miles away).
- Average last spring frostJun 850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 750% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)89 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone4b-25 to -20°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
42°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 43°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Lewistown 42 WSW (48 mi), Table Mountain (51 mi).
4-inch depth
42°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 44°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Lewistown 42 WSW (48 mi), Table Mountain (51 mi).
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 59642 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 42°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent window is mostly past. Next: spring, when soil reaches 50°F (typically mid-April to mid-May).
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Mountain West and High Plains. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | May 23 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jun 8 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 30 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Aug 21 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 7 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Sep 22 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | n/a | n/a |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jun 8 | Sep 7 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 20 | Sep 23 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 59642
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jun 8) and first fall frost (Sep 7). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 13–27 | Jun 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 30–Apr 13 | Jun 22–Jul 6 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 30–Apr 13 | Jun 22–Jul 6 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Apr 13–27 | Jun 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Apr 13–27 | May 18–Jun 8 (transplant) May 11–Jun 22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–Aug 3 (transplant) Jun 29–Jul 27 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 27–May 18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Kale | Apr 13–27 | May 11–25 (transplant) May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Jun 15–Jul 13 (transplant) Jun 1–29 (sowing) |
| Collards | Apr 13–27 | May 11–Jun 8 (transplant) May 11–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | Jun 15–Jul 13 (transplant) |
| Broccoli | Mar 30–Apr 13 | May 11–25 (transplant) | Jun 1–29 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 30–Apr 13 | May 11–25 (transplant) | Jun 1–29 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 30–Apr 13 | May 25–Jun 8 (transplant) | – |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 16–30 | May 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 13–27 | May 11–25 (transplant) May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Jun 29–Jul 13 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | May 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–27 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | May 11–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | May 11–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–27 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 27–May 11 | May 25–Jun 15 (transplant) May 25–Jun 22 (sow outdoors) | Jun 29–Jul 13 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | May 11–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | Jun 29–Jul 13 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 18–Jun 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Radish | – | May 4–Jun 15 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | May 11–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | Jun 29–Jul 13 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 18–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Apr 13–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Jun 15–29 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 16–30 | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 27–May 25 (sow outdoors) | Jun 29–Jul 13 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 16–30 | May 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Jul 27–Aug 24 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 27–May 11 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | May 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 29–Jul 13 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 22–Jul 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 29–Jul 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | May 11–18 | Jun 15–29 (transplant) Jun 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | May 11–18 | Jun 15–29 (transplant) Jun 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | May 11–18 | Jun 15–29 (transplant) Jun 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | May 11–18 | Jun 22–Jul 6 (transplant) Jun 22–Jul 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | May 11–18 | Jun 22–Jul 6 (transplant) Jun 22–Jul 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 27–May 11 | Jun 22–Jul 6 (transplant) Jun 22–Jul 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 16–30 | Jun 15–22 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 27–May 11 | Jun 15–29 (transplant) Jun 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 25–Jun 22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–27 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 30–Apr 13 | May 25–Jun 8 (transplant) May 18–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–27 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | May 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | May 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | May 11–25 (transplant) | Jun 29–Jul 27 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Wilsall 8 ENE, MT (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00249023), elevation 5,865 ft, 20.2 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilsall 1S, MT | 20 mi | Jun 4 | Sep 6 |
| White Sulphur Springs #2, MT | 20 mi | Jun 4 | Sep 11 |
| Martinsdale 3 NNW, MT | 26 mi | Jun 3 | Sep 8 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 5 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 59642
When is the last frost in 59642?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 59642 is June 8. For a more cautious planting date, use June 30, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 59642?
The average first fall freeze is September 7. In 1 year in 10 it comes by August 21.
What hardiness zone is 59642?
ZIP 59642 is in USDA zone 4b (-25 to -20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 59642 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
59086 Sedan 59053 Martinsdale Colony 59714 Belgrade 59085 Twodot 59018 Clyde Park 59645 White Sulphur Springs 59644 The Silos 59082 Springdale
Other ZIP codes in Meagher County
59053 59645 All Meagher County frost dates · Montana frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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- Weekly yard to-dos
Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.