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

Planting zone for 59644 — Townsend, MT

ZIP code 59644 (Townsend, Broadwater County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 19 and the first fall frost September 19.

Where ZIP 59644 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 19
First frostSep 19
2012 zone4b

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 4b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Townsend, 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 Townsend, MT

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 19median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 2only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 19median — 10% chance by Sep 5
Growing season122 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 7 and returns around October 1.

From the NOAA station Townsend 3se, MT — 8 miles away, elevation 3,963 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 59644

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 28
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 28 – May 12
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
TomatoesTransplant · May 26 – Jun 9
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 2 – Jun 16
BeansSow outdoors · May 26 – Jun 9
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 26 – Jun 9
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 26 – Jun 9
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 25 – Aug 8
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 5 – Oct 10
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 19) and first fall frost (Sep 19) 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 59644 came on Mar 11 — 31 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 11).

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 Townsend, MT.

Soil in Townsend, MT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 59644 is Amesha — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.9alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Amesha loam, 1 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 59644; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Townsend, MT

Summer high83 °Faverage high, July
Winter low14 °Faverage low, January
Hot days14days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights174nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,839base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 49 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 35 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation10.6 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall24 inper year; 45 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 34 °F, low 14 °F 34°14° JanFebruary: average high 39 °F, low 17 °F 39°17° FebMarch: average high 49 °F, low 24 °F 49°24° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 31 °F 58°31° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 39 °F 67°39° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 47 °F 74°47° JunJuly: average high 83 °F, low 52 °F 83°52° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 50 °F 83°50° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 42 °F 73°42° SepOctober: average high 59 °F, low 32 °F 59°32° OctNovember: average high 44 °F, low 22 °F 44°22° NovDecember: average high 34 °F, low 14 °F 34°14° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 0.28 in precipitation, 4.4 in snowfall 0.3❄4 JanFebruary: 0.28 in precipitation, 3.2 in snowfall 0.3❄3 FebMarch: 0.42 in precipitation, 4 in snowfall 0.4❄4 MarApril: 0.85 in precipitation, 2.3 in snowfall 0.8❄2 AprMay: 1.78 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.8 MayJune: 2.51 in precipitation 2.5 JunJuly: 1.21 in precipitation 1.2 JulAugust: 1.10 in precipitation 1.1 AugSeptember: 0.78 in precipitation 0.8 SepOctober: 0.65 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 0.7❄1 OctNovember: 0.39 in precipitation, 3.9 in snowfall 0.4❄4 NovDecember: 0.30 in precipitation, 4.4 in snowfall 0.3❄4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Townsend 3se, MT (8 mi away); precipitation: Townsend 3se, MT (8 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.

596475a
Winston, MT · 11 mi
596355a
East Helena, MT · 20 mi
596435a
Toston, MT · 21 mi
596454b
White Sulphur Springs, MT · 26 mi
596044b
Helena, MT · 30 mi
596024b
Helena, MT · 31 mi
597145a
Belgrade, MT · 34 mi
596424b
Ringling, MT · 34 mi

Montana planting zones →

Questions about 59644

What planting zone is ZIP code 59644?

ZIP code 59644 (Townsend, 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 Townsend, MT?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 59644 is May 19; after June 2 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Townsend 3se station.

When is the first frost in Townsend, MT?

The median first fall frost near 59644 is September 19, giving a median frost-free growing season of 122 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 59644?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 24 – Apr 7 and set transplants outside around May 26 – Jun 9, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 59644 get?

About 10.6 inches of precipitation a year and 24 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Townsend 3se station).

How hot do summers get in Townsend, MT?

The average high peaks at 83 °F in July, with about 14 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 59644 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Amesha at the center of ZIP 59644: loam, well drained, pH about 7.9 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Townsend, MT in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 59644 came on Mar 11 in 2026, 31 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 11), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Townsend, MT?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 59644 is 15 h 49 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).