When to plant beets in Montana
Montana’s average last spring frost is May 15, and the first fall frost typically arrives around September 15 — about 123 frost-free days (USDA zones 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a). Beet needs 50–70 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Montana's growing season.
Montana covers a wide range of climates, so your exact frost dates may differ from the state average by two weeks or more. For dates tuned to your town, use the calendar generator.
When to plant beets in Montana: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Apr 12 – May 1. Seeds germinate in soil from 45 to 85°F.
Succession sow again in Montana: May 5 · May 23 · Jun 10
Spring succession stops before summer heat makes it bolt. Start sowing again in late summer for a fall crop (see the fall window above).
Windows are ~1–2 week bands around each date. Frost dates are a statewide average from NOAA/NCEI normals; your town may differ by two weeks or more. Calendar year 2026.
How to grow beets in Montana, step by step
- Prepare the bed. They need six or more hours of sun for the best growth, though four to six hours in partial shade is enough and loose soil at least 12 inches deep, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Dig in compost before planting.
- Sow outdoors (Apr 12 – May 1). Space plants about 4 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart, sowing seed 0.75 inch deep. It handles frost well, so it can go out before the last frost date. As a cool-season crop it does best before summer heat arrives in Montana.
- Water and feed. Give it steady, even moisture, about an inch of water a week from rain or the hose.
- Watch for pests and problems. Pests: leaf miner, flea beetle, aphids. Diseases and disorders: cercospora leaf spot, scab, damping off.
- Harvest (from about Jun 6 – Jun 26). Beet takes 50-70 days to reach harvest. Each wrinkled 'seed' is a cluster of 2-4 seedlings - thin to one or transplant the extras while tiny. Thinnings are edible greens.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Montana’s average frost dates. More in the full beet growing guide.
Beet planting dates by USDA zone in Montana
Montana spans USDA zones 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average, so the beet dates shift with them.
When to plant beets in nearby states
Questions gardeners in Montana ask
When is the best time to plant beets in Montana?
Sow beets in Montana between April 12 and May 1. That timing is set by Montana's average last spring frost of May 15; Montana spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
Can I plant beets in the fall in Montana?
Yes. For a fall crop, sow between July 4 and July 21, so the crop matures in cool weather before Montana's first frost around September 15.
When will beets planted in Montana be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, beets are usually ready from about June 6 to June 26, 50-70 days after sowing.
When is the last frost in Montana?
On average around May 15, with the first fall frost around September 15 - about 123 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.