When to plant cucumbers in Montana

Cucumbers
Plant out in Billings
May 18–May 25

Across Montana the window opens between May 18 and June 27. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Billings
Apr 6–Apr 13
Plant out, Billings
May 18–May 25
Sow outdoors, Billings
May 11–May 25
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 15
Last frost, Billings
May 4

Start seeds indoors 3–4 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–3 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Cucumbers rot in cold soil. Sow when the soil is at least 65°F.

Cucumbers planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
BillingsMay 18–May 25
MissoulaMay 24–May 31
Great FallsMay 20–May 27
BozemanJun 9–Jun 16
Butte-Silver BowJun 27–Jul 4
HelenaMay 23–May 30
KalispellJun 14–Jun 21

In Butte-Silver Bow the frost-free season is shorter than cucumbers need. Start plants indoors and pick early varieties.

Questions

When should I plant cucumbers in Montana?

In Billings, plant out from May 18 to May 25. Across Montana the window opens between May 18 and June 27, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 3–4 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–3 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

Is the season long enough for cucumbers everywhere in Montana?

Not quite. In Butte-Silver Bow the frost-free season is shorter than the time cucumbers need to ripen. Start plants indoors and pick an early variety.

More for Montana

Cucumbers in other states

Frost dates for every city in Montana