Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for 59022 — Crow Agency, MT

ZIP code 59022 (Crow Agency, Big Horn County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 23 and the first fall frost September 15.

Where ZIP 59022 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone4b−25 to −20 °F
Coldest night−31.7 to −28.9 °C
Last frostMay 23
First frostSep 15
2012 zone4a

Was 4a on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 4b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Crow Agency, MT…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Crow Agency, MT

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 23median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 7only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 15median — 10% chance by Sep 1
Growing season113 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 11 and returns around September 27.

From the NOAA station Busby, MT — 15 miles away, elevation 3,432 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in 59022

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 11 – May 2
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 2 – May 16
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 2 – May 16
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
TomatoesTransplant · May 30 – Jun 13
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 6 – Jun 20
BeansSow outdoors · May 30 – Jun 13
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 30 – Jun 13
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 30 – Jun 13
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 21 – Aug 4
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 1 – Oct 6
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 23) and first fall frost (Sep 15) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 59022 came on Mar 21 — 18 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 8).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 4b in Montana

506 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Montana, and rated by the USDA to survive −25 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 4b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 23

American elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °Fbalsam poplar80 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −79 °Fblack locust60 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −37 °Fboxelder60 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FDouglas-fir200 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Feastern cottonwood190 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −43 °F

Shrubs 87

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Falderleaf mountain mahogany15 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −41 °Falpine laurel1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Fantelope bitterbrush6 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −36 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 229

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine mountainsorrel1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °Falpine sweetvetch2 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °FAmerican alpine speedwell1 ft · blooms summer · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican bistort1.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 155

Alaska oniongrass3 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Falkali cordgrass3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAlpine Meadow-Foxtail0.5 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Falpine timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °Fanalogue sedge1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 3

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fwestern white clematis1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Crow Agency, MT.

Soil in Crow Agency, MT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 59022 is Midway — silty clay loam, well drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Midway-Thedalund complex, hilly.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 59022; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Crow Agency, MT

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low9 °Faverage low, January
Hot days38days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights193nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,154base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 42 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 42 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation15.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall52 inper year; 90 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 34 °F, low 9 °F 34°9° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 11 °F 37°11° FebMarch: average high 49 °F, low 21 °F 49°21° MarApril: average high 59 °F, low 30 °F 59°30° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 39 °F 68°39° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 47 °F 78°47° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 53 °F 88°53° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 51 °F 88°51° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 41 °F 77°41° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 30 °F 61°30° OctNovember: average high 46 °F, low 19 °F 46°19° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 10 °F 36°10° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 0.69 in precipitation, 9.9 in snowfall 0.7❄10 JanFebruary: 0.71 in precipitation, 9.7 in snowfall 0.7❄10 FebMarch: 0.95 in precipitation, 7.3 in snowfall 0.9❄7 MarApril: 1.66 in precipitation, 5.7 in snowfall 1.7❄6 AprMay: 2.71 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 2.7❄1 MayJune: 2.11 in precipitation 2.1 JunJuly: 1.38 in precipitation 1.4 JulAugust: 1.01 in precipitation 1.0 AugSeptember: 1.58 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 1.6 SepOctober: 1.50 in precipitation, 3.8 in snowfall 1.5❄4 OctNovember: 0.78 in precipitation, 6.2 in snowfall 0.8❄6 NovDecember: 0.64 in precipitation, 8.6 in snowfall 0.6❄9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Busby, MT (15 mi away); precipitation: Busby, MT (15 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

3 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

590314b
Garryowen, MT · 7 mi
590165a
Busby, MT · 17 mi
590505a
Lodge Grass, MT · 24 mi
590344b
Hardin, MT · 27 mi
590104b
Bighorn, MT · 27 mi
590755a
Saint Xavier, MT · 31 mi
590894b
Wyola, MT · 33 mi
590644b
Pompeys Pillar, MT · 36 mi

Montana planting zones →

Questions about 59022

What planting zone is ZIP code 59022?

ZIP code 59022 (Crow Agency, MT) is in USDA hardiness zone 4b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −25 to −20 °F (−31.7 to −28.9 °C).

When is the last frost in Crow Agency, MT?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 59022 is May 23; after June 7 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Busby station.

When is the first frost in Crow Agency, MT?

The median first fall frost near 59022 is September 15, giving a median frost-free growing season of 113 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 59022?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 28 – Apr 11 and set transplants outside around May 30 – Jun 13, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 59022 get?

About 15.7 inches of precipitation a year and 52 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Busby station).

How hot do summers get in Crow Agency, MT?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 38 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 59022 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Midway at the center of ZIP 59022: silty clay loam, well drained, pH about 7.2 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Crow Agency, MT in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 59022 came on Mar 21 in 2026, 18 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 8), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Crow Agency, MT?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 59022 is 15 h 42 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 59022 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 59022 in zone 4a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 4b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.