Fall in zone 5aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 59755 (Virginia City, 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, Virginia City, MT (1 miles away).
- Average last spring frostJun 450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 1850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)106 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone5a-20 to -15°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 Table Mountain (41 mi), Dillon 18 WSW (52 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 Table Mountain (41 mi), Dillon 18 WSW (52 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 59755 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 17 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jun 4 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 23 |
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) | Sep 3 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 18 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 2 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jun 20 | Sep 6 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jun 4 | Sep 18 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 14 | Oct 1 |
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 59755
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jun 4) and first fall frost (Sep 18). 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 9–23 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 26–Apr 9 | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 26–Apr 9 | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Apr 9–23 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Apr 9–23 | May 14–Jun 4 (transplant) May 7–Jun 18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 24–Aug 14 (transplant) Jul 10–Aug 7 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 23–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 24–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Kale | Apr 9–23 | May 7–21 (transplant) May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Jun 26–Jul 24 (transplant) Jun 12–Jul 10 (sowing) |
| Collards | Apr 9–23 | May 7–Jun 4 (transplant) May 7–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Jun 26–Jul 24 (transplant) Jun 12–Jul 10 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 26–Apr 9 | May 7–21 (transplant) | Jun 12–Jul 10 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 26–Apr 9 | May 7–21 (transplant) | Jun 12–Jul 10 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 26–Apr 9 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) | Jun 12–Jul 10 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 12–26 | May 7–21 (transplant) | May 29–Jun 19 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 9–23 | May 7–21 (transplant) May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 10–24 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 24–Aug 7 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | May 7–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 24–Aug 21 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | May 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 24–Aug 7 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 23–May 7 | May 21–Jun 11 (transplant) May 21–Jun 18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 10–24 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | May 7–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 10–24 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 14–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | Jun 26–Jul 10 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 30–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 7–21 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | May 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 10–24 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 14–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Apr 9–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Jun 26–Jul 10 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 12–26 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 23–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 10–24 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 12–26 | May 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 7–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | Aug 7–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | May 7–21 (transplant) | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 25–Jul 9 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 18–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 25–Jul 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | May 7–14 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | May 7–14 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | May 7–14 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | May 7–14 | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) Jun 18–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | May 7–14 | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) Jun 18–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 23–May 7 | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) Jun 18–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 12–26 | Jun 11–18 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 23–May 7 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 21–Jun 18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 24–Aug 7 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 26–Apr 9 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) May 14–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 24–Aug 7 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | May 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | May 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | May 7–21 (transplant) | Jul 10–Aug 7 (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: Virginia City, MT (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00248597), elevation 5,773 ft, 1.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laurin 2NE, MT | 10 mi | May 24 | Sep 22 |
| Ennis, MT | 12 mi | Jun 16 | Sep 4 |
| Alder 17 S, MT | 15 mi | Jun 6 | Sep 14 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 23 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 59755
When is the last frost in 59755?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 59755 is June 4. For a more cautious planting date, use June 23, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 59755?
The average first fall freeze is September 18. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 3.
What hardiness zone is 59755?
ZIP 59755 is in USDA zone 5a (-20 to -15°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 59755 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
59749 Sheridan 59729 Ennis 59710 Alder 59740 McAllister 59754 Twin Bridges 59735 Harrison 59716 Big Sky 59745 Norris
Other ZIP codes in Madison County
59710 59716 59720 59729 59735 59740 59745 59747 59749 59751 59754 All Madison County frost dates · Montana frost dates
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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.