Just moved to Great Falls, MT

Hey all,
As the topic suggestion I just moved to a brand new climate. It has already snowed here too. I am trying to see if anyone know about a frost dates from experiences out this way. I dont want to be too early or too late in starting seeds and putting them outside. Any thoughts? Thanks!

to the SFG Forum.
here is a start to answer your question
http://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-montana-usda-plant-zone-hardiness-map.php <~~~ click

http://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-montana-first-frost-date-map.php

Camp's given you a good place to start I believe Turan is also in the Montana area, and I'm sure she would be happy to share what she know's of the region. Also, there's lot's of great information located in the regional forums. I believe you are in the Western Mountains and High Plains region found here:
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/f16-western-mountains-high-plains

I live south of you in the Gallatin valley, but it is also up river from you. Generally you can expect frost free between Memorial and Labor Days. A lot depends on your microclimate as well. GF is known for unsettled weather and not much precipitation. You will learn a lot from going to the local garden nurserys and talking to the staff. I do not know them up there but I did find Fordes web site. http://www.forde-nursery.com/ They look like a good start.

thanks for all the great advice it is much appreciated!! Now to convince my hubby to make small boxes that will fit on the pourch since we can not put anything in the yard.

Update!! How did hubby come up on your boxes?!?!?!

so I found out that there is a community garden and for $15 I get 300 square feet. Hubby say that is the way we are going so the housing doesn't get mad at us. Now comes the hard part of deciding on the lay out and what to plant!!!!!

mschaef wrote:so I found out that there is a community garden and for $15 I get 300 square feet. Hubby say that is the way we are going so the housing doesn't get mad at us. Now comes the hard part of deciding on the lay out and what to plant!!!!!

But give yorself a pot of herbs on hte patio as well for quick usage.

not sure if the housing office will go for that they said only potted flowers allowed unless we fill out form and get permission. Gotta love military housing right?!

There are many ways of making an herb pot with flowers. If nothing else, thyme, basil, sage, and rosemary would make a pretty pot with a couple of marigolds to show as flowers.

Welcome to the forum!

mschaef wrote:not sure if the housing office wil go for that they said only potted flowers allowed unless we fill out form and get permission. Gotta love military housing right?!

Herbs bloom, just saying. Question - what is the objection to having a garden in the military yard. When I was in Military housing, the objection was to digging up the yard as the the family following might not take care of the flower/veggie bed and they would get trashy looking and the grass restored. I'm thinking tabletops that will be dismantled when you go. Tabletops are just huge "containers". Is it worth asking?

Kay

You can have fun all winter long planning that community garden plot, making changes, checking and rechecking what you like and thumbing thru garden catalogs.
You can make raised beds by using a hoe or metal rake to pull up soil into a 3 x 3 or 4 ft area. Fit in as many raised beds as your plot allows. You don't need lumber.
I've often put a bit of flowers in an herb pot. Plant some young petunia plants or pansies in a pot along with an herb or two, depending on the size of your pot. You'll have your flower color right away instead of sowing flower seeds and waiting.
You can also plant a flower transplant in a pot and sow leaf lettuce seeds around it. The lettuce can be cut to just above the soil as needed for a salad and it will regrow several times before it gets too hot and bolts. Many fresh salads for you this way.
Use a good potting soil for those pots.
Enjoy your gardening experience.

Thanks for the advice and your right about messing with the yard. They dont want anything on it because if it dies or isn't there when we move out we have to pay for it. In the flower bed if I plant anything I have to remove it and make sure that what they planted is still there when we move out or we pay for that too. So not worth the time and money if we move in a year or two. So going with the community plot and a few "flower" pot with some herbs, lettuce, and flowers I think will work. Time to get some seed catelogs and start looking for some seeds for next year since we already have snow here.

mscahef.....Egads, snow already. The good thing about that is its always been known as the 'poor man's fertilizer.' It covers the ground and protects it thru the winter from harsh winds so when you have your garden, consider it a safe blanket.