Beginners Guide To Gardening in Montana

It’s not too late it you get started now.

Have you been wanting to start a home garden? It may sound daunting at first. But, anyone can do it! Knowing where your food is coming from, having a steady, personal supply of fresh produce, not needing to grocery shop nearly as often, eating more fruits and vegetables to strengthen your family’s immune system, and save money long term, are all reasons to start planning your home garden today!

Step 1: What’s the best time of year to start your outdoor garden in Montana? Start planning and planting in early May, which is when nighttime temperatures tend to be consistently above freezing. There are a few different ways to start an outdoor garden and ultimately it depends which crops you wish to grow, how involved you wish to be in the entire process, how much garden space you have, and where you live.

Where you live is important, especially in northeast Montana, because you want to pay attention to frost dates. Early spring nighttime temperatures are too unpredictable and cold for many types of vegetables to survive but there are exceptions like lettuce, cabbage, spinach, radishes, beets, and carrots. These garden plants are hardy and can withstand temperatures as low as 32 degrees. Warm-season crops, like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers cannot survive the cold temperatures of early spring and sh...