When to Plant Garlic in Montana

In a typical Montana location, plant in fall Aug 31 – Sep 14. Across the state, the fall planting window starts as early as Aug 8 in Butte and as late as Sep 5 in Laurel.

Method Direct sow

Days to maturity 240–270 days

Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates.

Garlic Planting Dates by City

City	Fall planting
Billings	Sep 3 – Sep 17
Missoula	Sep 3 – Sep 17
Great Falls	Sep 3 – Sep 17
Bozeman	Aug 25 – Sep 8
Butte	Aug 8 – Aug 22
Helena	Sep 2 – Sep 16
Kalispell	Aug 13 – Aug 27
Havre	Aug 26 – Sep 9
Anaconda	Aug 17 – Aug 31
Miles City	Sep 2 – Sep 16
Helena Valley Southeast	Sep 2 – Sep 16
Belgrade	Aug 19 – Sep 2
Helena Valley West Central	Sep 2 – Sep 16
Evergreen	Aug 13 – Aug 27
Livingston	Aug 17 – Aug 31
Whitefish	Aug 28 – Sep 11
Laurel	Sep 5 – Sep 19
Sidney	Aug 30 – Sep 13
Lockwood	Sep 3 – Sep 17
Lewistown	Aug 31 – Sep 14

Showing the 20 most populous of 20 Montana cities. Dates are estimates from each city's NOAA frost normals and university extension timing guidelines. See all Montana cities.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant garlic in Montana?

In a typical Montana location, plant in fall Aug 31 – Sep 14. Across the state, the fall planting window starts as early as Aug 8 in Butte and as late as Sep 5 in Laurel.

When is the last frost in Montana?

The average last spring frost in Montana ranges from May 5 in Laurel to June 13 in Butte, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.

How long do garlic take to grow?

Garlic typically take 240–270 days from planting to harvest. Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates.

Other Crops in Montana

When to plant garlic in other states