PlantingWindowThe American Planting Almanac

When to plant garden cress in Billings, Montana

May 10 – May 24

Direct-sow outdoors · typical Billings year

Climate basis: NOAA station Billings Wtp, MT (USC00240802), 13 mi (21 km) from downtown Billings (ZCTA 59101 centroid), elevation 3097 ft, on the 1991–2020 climate normals. Direct-sow garden cress from approximately the dates above, anchored to the median last spring 32°F freeze (May 10). One year in ten still freezes after May 24.

Last spring freezeMay 101-in-10 after May 24
First fall freezeOctober 11-in-10 before Sep 19
Frost-free season≈ 142 daysmedian at 32°F
Hard freeze, 28°Apr 27 – Oct 12kills even hardy greens
USDA zone5a-20 to -15°F winter low — not frost timing

The Billings year

Direct-sow outdoorsMay 10 – May 24
  • indoors under lights
  • in the garden
  • frost-free season
  • 1-in-10 years still freeze to May 24
Garden Cress in Billings · freeze context from Billings Wtp, MT, 1991–2020 normals.

Every method, with its sources

Direct-sow outdoors

May 10 – May 24

Utah State University Extension says garden cress "does not tolerate frost so plant near the frost free date", and Arkansas Extension's culture line reads "seed shallow depth after danger of frost"; both open at the last spring frost, and this later interval supersedes Arkansas' looser "as soon as the ground can be worked" sentence, giving last spring frost to plus 14 days. Anchored to the median last spring freeze (May 10). Utah State University Extension · University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service

Start seeds indoors

Not calculated

The cited extension guides do not time an indoor seed-starting window for this crop.

Transplant outdoors

Not calculated

The cited extension guides do not time an outdoor transplanting window for this crop.

Fall planting

Not calculated

No source-backed fall planting rule exists for this crop in the registry, so no fall window is calculated.

Variety assumption: Offsets are for garden cress (Lepidium sativum), a 10–40 day cutting green; watercress and upland cress are different species with different requirements and are not covered by this entry.

These windows describe typical years (1991–2020 climate normals), not this year's forecast. Freezes happen outside them — especially in frost pockets, valleys, and urban edges. Watch the forecast before committing tender plants.

This week, not a typical year:
Crop rule sources (2)

Keep exploring

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Local overview