What to plant this week in Billings, MT
Billings gardeners are in a critical swing period where the last frost window has just closed on May 8, signaling it is safe to move sensitive transplants like tomatoes and peppers into your beds. While you can't sow anything new this week as the soil remains too cold, focus entirely on harvesting your massive list of ready crops ranging from beets and cabbage to early tomatoes and sweet corn.
The next 7 days
Billings, MTGrowing in Billings right now
- Watch for late spring wind chills common in the High Plains; use row covers over tender seedlings like basil and zinnia if a sudden drop below 40°F threatens.
- Billings' heavy clay-loam soil dries out quickly after our spring rain showers, so water newly transplanted crops deeply to encourage root establishment before the dry heat sets in.
- Take advantage of the short growing season by prioritizing fast-maturing varieties from your harvest list, such as bush beans and Napa cabbage, to maximize yield before October 8.
Sow this week
2 crops- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
55 crops- Bachelor's Button (Cornflower)
- Banana Pepper
- Basil
- Beet
- Bell Pepper
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cabbage
- Carrot
- Cauliflower
- Cherry Tomato
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Collard Greens
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Dill
- Eggplant
- Fava (Broad) Bean
- Fennel
- French Marigold
- Garden Geranium (Zonal)
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Ground Cherry
- Jalapeño
- Lantana
- Lima Bean
- Napa Cabbage
- Nasturtium
- Onion
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Parsley
- Petunia
- Poblano Pepper
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- Roma Tomato
- Rutabaga
- Scallion (Bunching Onion)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shallot
- Shishito Pepper
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Snapdragon
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Swiss Chard
- Thai Basil
- Tomato
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Start succession sowing bush beans and snapdragons every two weeks for a continuous harvest.
- Deadhead Cosmos and Cleome regularly to encourage more blooms throughout the summer.
- Thin out carrot and beet seedlings now to give remaining plants enough room to mature.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch for aphids clustering on the new growth of squash and cucumbers, which can spread rapidly in Billings' mild May weather.
- Monitor cutworms attacking seedling stems of transplanted peppers and tomatoes as they emerge from their overwintering spots in the soil.
- Check collards and kale (if you planted early) for caterpillars that thrive in our local microclimates during this transition period.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to keep roots cool and reduce evaporation during this hot season.
Harvest your first ripe cherry tomatoes today to enjoy their peak flavor while they are young and tender.
Billings gardening questions
3Can I plant my tomato seeds directly into the ground now?
No, wait until mid-May when the soil warms up; Billings' cool spring soil can rot direct-sown seedlings before they establish. Transplant your starter plants now instead, as long as you protect them from the last frost risk after May 8.
My zucchini and squash are growing fast, but the leaves look yellowish—what is wrong?
This is likely a nutrient deficiency common in Billings' clay soil or early root nematode pressure; side-dress with compost tea immediately. Ensure you aren't overwatering, as our sudden rain showers can leach nutrients from the surface layer.
How do I protect my harvestable tomatoes and peppers before the first hard frost in August?
Cover your ripening crops with 2-foot tall cold frames or heavy row covers if a freeze is forecasted; Billings can see drops to near zero degrees even after mid-August. Bring any small-fruit varieties like cherry tomatoes indoors immediately when nighttime temperatures dip below freezing.
Other cities in zone 5a
6See the full zone 5a guide → · Plan your Billings garden in SproutGuide →