When to plant lettuce in Montana

Plant out in Billings

Apr 20–May 11

Across Montana the window opens between April 20 and May 30. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Billings: Mar 9–Mar 23
Plant out, Billings: Apr 20–May 11
Sow outdoors, Billings: Apr 6–May 11
Fall planting, Billings: Aug 12–Aug 26
Last frost, Billings: May 4

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out from 2 weeks before to 1 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors from 4 weeks before to 1 weeks after the last frost; sow again for fall 6–8 weeks before the first frost. Lettuce bolts in heat. Sow small batches every two weeks in spring and again in late summer.

Lettuce planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

BillingsApr 20–May 11

MissoulaApr 26–May 17

Great FallsApr 22–May 13

BozemanMay 12–Jun 2

Butte-Silver BowMay 30–Jun 20

HelenaApr 25–May 16

KalispellMay 17–Jun 7

Questions

When should I plant lettuce in Montana?

In Billings, plant out from April 20 to May 11. Across Montana the window opens between April 20 and May 30, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out from 2 weeks before to 1 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors from 4 weeks before to 1 weeks after the last frost; sow again for fall 6–8 weeks before the first frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Montana

Lettuce in other states

Frost dates for every city in Montana