Fall in zone 5aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 59041 (Silesia, 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, Joliet, MT (3 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 2950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 1550% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)107 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
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
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 59041 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring 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 14 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 29 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 17 |
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 1 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 15 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 1 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jun 13 | Sep 4 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 29 | Sep 15 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 13 | Sep 26 |
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 59041
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 29) and first fall frost (Sep 15). 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 3–17 | Jun 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 20–Apr 3 | Jun 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 20–Apr 3 | Jun 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Apr 3–17 | Jun 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Apr 3–17 | May 8–29 (transplant) May 1–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 11 (transplant) Jul 7–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 17–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Kale | Apr 3–17 | May 1–15 (transplant) May 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Jun 23–Jul 21 (transplant) Jun 9–Jul 7 (sowing) |
| Collards | Apr 3–17 | May 1–29 (transplant) May 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Jun 23–Jul 21 (transplant) Jun 9–Jul 7 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 20–Apr 3 | May 1–15 (transplant) | Jun 9–Jul 7 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 20–Apr 3 | May 1–15 (transplant) | Jun 9–Jul 7 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 20–Apr 3 | May 15–29 (transplant) | Jun 9–Jul 7 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 6–20 | May 1–15 (transplant) | May 26–Jun 16 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 3–17 | May 1–15 (transplant) May 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Jul 7–21 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | May 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | May 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 18 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | May 1–22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 17–May 1 | May 15–Jun 5 (transplant) May 15–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | Jul 7–21 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | May 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Jul 7–21 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 8–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | Jun 23–Jul 7 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 24–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | May 1–22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 7–21 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 8–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Apr 3–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Jun 23–Jul 7 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 6–20 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 17–May 15 (sow outdoors) | Jul 7–21 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 6–20 | May 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 4–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | Aug 4–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | May 1–15 (transplant) | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 19–Jul 3 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 19–Jul 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | May 1–8 | Jun 5–19 (transplant) Jun 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | May 1–8 | Jun 5–19 (transplant) Jun 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | May 1–8 | Jun 5–19 (transplant) Jun 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | May 1–8 | Jun 12–26 (transplant) Jun 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | May 1–8 | Jun 12–26 (transplant) Jun 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 17–May 1 | Jun 12–26 (transplant) Jun 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 6–20 | Jun 5–12 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 17–May 1 | Jun 5–19 (transplant) Jun 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 15–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 20–Apr 3 | May 15–29 (transplant) May 8–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | May 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | May 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | May 1–15 (transplant) | Jul 7–Aug 4 (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: Joliet, MT (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00244506), elevation 3,838 ft, 2.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridger 2 N, MT | 12 mi | May 14 | Sep 24 |
| Columbus, MT | 18 mi | May 27 | Sep 14 |
| Billings WFO, MT | 26 mi | May 5 | Oct 3 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 24 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 59041
When is the last frost in 59041?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 59041 is May 29. For a more cautious planting date, use June 17, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 59041?
The average first fall freeze is September 15. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 1.
What hardiness zone is 59041?
ZIP 59041 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 59041 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
59013 Boyd 59026 Edgar 59063 Park City 59029 Fromberg 59070 Roberts 59044 Laurel 59019 Columbus 59057
Other ZIP codes in Carbon County
59007 59008 59013 59014 59026 59029 59068 59070 59071 All Carbon County frost dates · Montana frost dates
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- Freeze alerts
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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.