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

Planting zone for 59808 — Missoula, MT

ZIP code 59808 (Missoula, Missoula County) is in USDA zone 5b: the coldest winter night averages −15 to −10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 6 and the first fall frost October 4.

Where ZIP 59808 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.

Zone5b−15 to −10 °F
Coldest night−26.1 to −23.3 °C
Last frostMay 6
First frostOct 4
2012 zone5b

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 5b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Missoula, 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 Missoula, MT

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 19only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 4median — 10% chance by Sep 23
Growing season151 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 23 and returns around October 15.

From the NOAA station Missoula 6 Nw WFO, MT — 2 miles away, elevation 3,196 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 59808

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesTransplant · May 13 – May 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
BeansSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 9 – Aug 23
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 20 – Oct 25
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (Oct 4) 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 59808 came on Apr 9 — 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 17).

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 5b in Montana

561 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Montana, and rated by the USDA to survive −15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 28

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 97

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 259

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 164

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 Missoula, MT.

Soil in Missoula, MT

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 59808 is Bigarm — gravelly loam, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureGravelly 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: Bigarm gravelly loam, 15 to 30 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 59808; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Missoula, MT

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low19 °Faverage low, January
Hot days26days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights161nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,042base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 53 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 31 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation14.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall43 inper year; 59 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 33 °F, low 19 °F 33°19° JanFebruary: average high 38 °F, low 22 °F 38°22° FebMarch: average high 49 °F, low 28 °F 49°28° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 34 °F 57°34° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 42 °F 67°42° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 48 °F 74°48° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 54 °F 86°54° JulAugust: average high 84 °F, low 53 °F 84°53° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 45 °F 73°45° SepOctober: average high 56 °F, low 34 °F 56°34° OctNovember: average high 41 °F, low 25 °F 41°25° NovDecember: average high 32 °F, low 19 °F 32°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 0.95 in precipitation, 9 in snowfall 0.9❄9 JanFebruary: 0.90 in precipitation, 10.5 in snowfall 0.9❄11 FebMarch: 0.93 in precipitation, 4.9 in snowfall 0.9❄5 MarApril: 1.39 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 1.4❄1 AprMay: 1.82 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 1.8 MayJune: 2.20 in precipitation 2.2 JunJuly: 0.84 in precipitation 0.8 JulAugust: 0.85 in precipitation 0.8 AugSeptember: 0.98 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.0 SepOctober: 1.23 in precipitation, 1.3 in snowfall 1.2❄1 OctNovember: 1.19 in precipitation, 5 in snowfall 1.2❄5 NovDecember: 1.08 in precipitation, 10.7 in snowfall 1.1❄11 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Missoula 6 Nw WFO, MT (2 mi away); precipitation: Missoula 6 Nw WFO, MT (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

598076a
Missoula, MT · 7 mi
598065b
Missoula, MT · 8 mi
598015b
Missoula, MT · 8 mi
598125b
Missoula, MT · 9 mi
598025b
Missoula, MT · 9 mi
598045b
Missoula, MT · 10 mi
598346a
Frenchtown, MT · 10 mi
598515b
Milltown, MT · 12 mi

All 8 ZIP codes in Missoula → · Montana planting zones →

Questions about 59808

What planting zone is ZIP code 59808?

ZIP code 59808 (Missoula, MT) is in USDA hardiness zone 5b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −15 to −10 °F (−26.1 to −23.3 °C).

When is the last frost in Missoula, MT?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 59808 is May 6; after May 19 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Missoula 6 Nw WFO station.

When is the first frost in Missoula, MT?

The median first fall frost near 59808 is October 4, giving a median frost-free growing season of 151 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 59808?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 11 – Mar 25 and set transplants outside around May 13 – May 27, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 59808 get?

About 14.4 inches of precipitation a year and 43 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Missoula 6 Nw WFO station).

How hot do summers get in Missoula, 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 59808 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Bigarm at the center of ZIP 59808: gravelly loam, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Missoula, MT in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 59808 came on Apr 9 in 2026, 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 17), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Missoula, MT?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 59808 is 15 h 53 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).