When to plant rosemary in Billings, Montana

May 10 – May 24

Transplant 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. Transplant rosemary outdoors 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 season142 daysmedian at 32°F
Hard freeze, 28°Apr 27Oct 12kills even hardy greens
USDA zone5a-20 to -15°F winter low not frost timing

The Billings year

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

Every method, with its sources

Transplant outdoors

May 10 – May 24

Oklahoma State Table 1: plant rosemary after the last spring frost (propagated by seed or cuttings; most gardeners set out purchased plants). Point rule given a 14-day span. Anchored to the median last spring freeze (May 10). Oklahoma State University Extension

Start seeds indoors

Not calculated

Seed-started rosemary is slow and erratic; the cited guide gives no indoor lead time, so no window is calculated.

Direct-sow outdoors

Not calculated

The cited extension guides do not time direct sowing 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: A slow-growing perennial; harvest lightly the first season. Not reliably winter-hardy in cold zones.

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 (1)

Keep exploring