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

Planting zone for 59524 — Dodson, MT

ZIP code 59524 (Dodson, Phillips County) is in USDA zone 4a: the coldest winter night averages −30 to −25 °F. The median last spring frost is May 24 and the first fall frost September 22.

Where ZIP 59524 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.

Zone4a−30 to −25 °F
Coldest night−34.4 to −31.7 °C
Last frostMay 24
First frostSep 22
2012 zone4a

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 4a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Dodson, 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 Dodson, MT

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 24median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 22median — 10% chance by Sep 8
Growing season118 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 12 and returns around October 1.

From the NOAA station Harlem 20s, MT — 14 miles away, elevation 2,694 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 59524

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 12 – May 3
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 3 – May 17
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 3 – May 17
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
TomatoesTransplant · May 31 – Jun 14
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 7 – Jun 21
BeansSow outdoors · May 31 – Jun 14
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 31 – Jun 14
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 31 – Jun 14
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 28 – Aug 11
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 8 – Oct 13
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 24) and first fall frost (Sep 22) 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 59524 came on Mar 18 — 25 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 12).

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 4a in Montana

439 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Montana, and rated by the USDA to survive −30 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 4a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 21

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 77

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Falderleaf mountain mahogany15 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −41 °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 °FBarclay's willow15 ft · high shade tolerance · to −43 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 189

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 bistort1.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 141

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 Dodson, MT.

Soil in Dodson, MT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 59524 is Elloam — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Elloam-Absher complex, 0 to 4 percent slopes.

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 59524; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Dodson, MT

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low8 °Faverage low, January
Hot days26days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights202nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,027base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day16 h 04 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 21 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation14.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 32 °F, low 8 °F 32°8° JanFebruary: average high 34 °F, low 10 °F 34°10° FebMarch: average high 45 °F, low 20 °F 45°20° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 30 °F 56°30° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 39 °F 66°39° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 48 °F 75°48° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 52 °F 86°52° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 51 °F 85°51° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 42 °F 74°42° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 30 °F 59°30° OctNovember: average high 44 °F, low 20 °F 44°20° NovDecember: average high 35 °F, low 11 °F 35°11° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 0.55 in precipitation 0.6 JanFebruary: 0.38 in precipitation 0.4 FebMarch: 0.72 in precipitation 0.7 MarApril: 1.23 in precipitation 1.2 AprMay: 2.57 in precipitation 2.6 MayJune: 2.77 in precipitation 2.8 JunJuly: 1.64 in precipitation 1.6 JulAugust: 1.12 in precipitation 1.1 AugSeptember: 1.34 in precipitation 1.3 SepOctober: 0.98 in precipitation 1.0 OctNovember: 0.57 in precipitation 0.6 NovDecember: 0.39 in precipitation 0.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Harlem 20s, MT (14 mi away); precipitation: Harlem 20s, MT (14 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

595464b
Zortman, MT · 18 mi
595274b
Hays, MT · 19 mi
595264a
Harlem, MT · 26 mi
595384a
Malta, MT · 27 mi
595233b
Chinook, MT · 45 mi
595294a
Hogeland, MT · 47 mi
595424a
Turner, MT · 47 mi
595473b
Zurich, MT · 47 mi

Montana planting zones →

Questions about 59524

What planting zone is ZIP code 59524?

ZIP code 59524 (Dodson, MT) is in USDA hardiness zone 4a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −30 to −25 °F (−34.4 to −31.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Dodson, MT?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 59524 is May 24; after June 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Harlem 20s station.

When is the first frost in Dodson, MT?

The median first fall frost near 59524 is September 22, giving a median frost-free growing season of 118 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 59524?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 29 – Apr 12 and set transplants outside around May 31 – Jun 14, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 59524 get?

About 14.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Harlem 20s station).

How hot do summers get in Dodson, MT?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 26 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 59524 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Elloam at the center of ZIP 59524: loam, well drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Dodson, MT in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 59524 came on Mar 18 in 2026, 25 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 12), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Dodson, MT?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 59524 is 16 h 04 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).