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

Planting zone for 59733 — Gold Creek, MT

ZIP code 59733 (Gold Creek, Powell County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is June 9 and the first fall frost September 8.

Where ZIP 59733 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 frostJun 9
First frostSep 8
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 Gold Creek, 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 Gold Creek, MT

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostJune 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 26only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 8median — 10% chance by Aug 26
Growing season91 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 16 and returns around September 20.

From the NOAA station Elliston, MT — 25 miles away, elevation 5,079 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 59733

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 19 – Jun 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · May 12 – May 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
LettuceSow outdoors · May 12 – May 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 19 – Jun 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 16 – Jun 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 23 – Jul 7
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 16 – Jun 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 16 – Jun 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 16 – Jun 30
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 14 – Jul 28
GarlicPlant cloves · Aug 25 – Sep 29
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Jun 9) and first fall frost (Sep 8) 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 59733 came on Apr 12 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 21).

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 Gold Creek, MT.

Soil in Gold Creek, MT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 59733 is Perma — cobbly loam, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureCobbly loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Perma cobbly loam, 15 to 35 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 59733; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Gold Creek, MT

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low13 °Faverage low, January
Hot days24days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights212nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,489base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 50 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 34 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation12.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall31 inper year; 58 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 33 °F, low 13 °F 33°13° JanFebruary: average high 38 °F, low 15 °F 38°15° FebMarch: average high 49 °F, low 21 °F 49°21° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 28 °F 58°28° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 34 °F 67°34° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 41 °F 75°41° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 44 °F 86°44° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 43 °F 85°43° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 37 °F 74°37° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 29 °F 58°29° OctNovember: average high 41 °F, low 19 °F 41°19° NovDecember: average high 32 °F, low 13 °F 32°13° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″January: 0.60 in precipitation, 5.3 in snowfall 0.6❄5 JanFebruary: 0.79 in precipitation, 4.8 in snowfall 0.8❄5 FebMarch: 0.82 in precipitation, 4.7 in snowfall 0.8❄5 MarApril: 0.93 in precipitation, 1.7 in snowfall 0.9❄2 AprMay: 1.81 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 1.8❄1 MayJune: 1.97 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 2.0❄1 JunJuly: 0.90 in precipitation 0.9 JulAugust: 0.82 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 0.8 AugSeptember: 0.90 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 0.9 SepOctober: 0.88 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 0.9❄1 OctNovember: 0.93 in precipitation, 5 in snowfall 0.9❄5 NovDecember: 0.71 in precipitation, 6.4 in snowfall 0.7❄6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Drummond Aviation, MT (12 mi away); precipitation: Drummond Aviation, MT (12 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.

597314b
Garrison, MT · 10 mi
598375a
Hall, MT · 15 mi
597224b
Deer Lodge, MT · 16 mi
598325b
Drummond, MT · 17 mi
597134b
Avon, MT · 18 mi
598435a
Helmville, MT · 21 mi
597284b
Elliston, MT · 25 mi
597564b
Warm Springs, MT · 26 mi

Montana planting zones →

Questions about 59733

What planting zone is ZIP code 59733?

ZIP code 59733 (Gold Creek, 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 Gold Creek, MT?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 59733 is June 9; after June 26 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elliston station.

When is the first frost in Gold Creek, MT?

The median first fall frost near 59733 is September 8, giving a median frost-free growing season of 91 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 59733?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Apr 14 – Apr 28 and set transplants outside around Jun 16 – Jun 30, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 59733 get?

About 12.1 inches of precipitation a year and 31 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Drummond Aviation station).

How hot do summers get in Gold Creek, MT?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 24 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 59733 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Perma at the center of ZIP 59733: cobbly loam, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Gold Creek, MT in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 59733 came on Apr 12 in 2026, 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 21), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Gold Creek, MT?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 59733 is 15 h 50 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).