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Garden Ready
Springtime in the Rockies
Get Your Garden Ready By Michael Connolly - Photos by Amanda Wilson Photography
Before you do any planting or planning, there are a couple of essential details that make NW Montana unique regarding the Growing of Plants.
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First – A Short Growing Season. We average approximately 90
growing days (Frost Free Days) here in the Flathead Valley (June 1 – September 1). However, the number of growing days varies greatly depending on your location. Areas on or around Flathead Lake or Kalispell proper will have a longer growing season, while Columbia Falls, Kila/Marion, Olney, West Glacier, and Whitefish will have a shorter growing season. Elevation also needs to be taken into account. If you are located at a higher elevation, this too will create fewer growing days. Being in a mountain valley also creates microclimates that can cause dramatic environmental changes within a relatively short distance between growing locations.
Second – Cool Evening Temperatures. Nighttime temperatures from June through August average 46.7 degrees. Cool evening temperatures cause a slowing down of plant growth limiting our plants' growth potential even further.
Most experienced gardeners look to Memorial Day or the last week of May to be relatively safe from frost. That being said, remember we live in NW Montana and can experience frost any month of the year. It is always a good idea to keep a watchful eye on the weather and plan accordingly. Usually, the 3 P’s (Pansies, Petunias, and Perennials) may be planted the first part of May as these plants will tolerate cooler nights and a light frost. Snapdragons, Dusty Miller, Dianthus,