Frost dates for Gardiner, MT
At Gardiner, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 21 and the median first fall frost is Sep 27, for a typical growing season of 128 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Jun 9. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 4b to 5a.
- May 21Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Jun 9Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Sep 27First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 128 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 20 | Jun 6 | Jun 22 |
| 32°F | May 5 | May 21 | Jun 9 |
| 28°F | Apr 20 | May 6 | May 23 |
| 24°F | Apr 4 | Apr 23 | May 9 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Sep 2 | Sep 16 | Sep 30 |
| 32°F | Sep 12 | Sep 27 | Oct 11 |
| 28°F | Sep 25 | Oct 7 | Oct 23 |
| 24°F | Oct 2 | Oct 18 | Nov 3 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 79 days | 101 days | 121 days |
| 32°F | 105 days | 128 days | 149 days |
| 28°F | 131 days | 153 days | 176 days |
| 24°F | 154 days | 178 days | 203 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 59030 | 4b | -25 to -20°F | 10 km |
| 59027 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 30 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USC00243378, at 45.0317, -110.7036, elevation 1608 m (5,275 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 23 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 167.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- W Yellowstone Gateway (52 km)
- Livingston 12 S (53 km)
- Hebgen Dam (53 km)
- Big Sky 2wnw (56 km)
- Cooke City 2 W (57 km)
- Silver Gate (58 km)
- Bozeman Montana State Univ (75 km)
- Livingston Mission Field (77 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.