by Rex Trulove

Created on: December 13, 2011   Last Updated: December 18, 2011

When people think of northwest Montana, they often think of a place that gets cold. In the winter, this is certainly a valid perception. However, the summers are wonderful for gardening. In fact, people are sometimes surprised at all that can be planted and grown. There are many tips to help people grow a great garden in this part of the state.

Planting time

It is valuable to have a good idea of when the last frost can be expected and what the average monthly temperatures are for a given location. For instance, in Missoula, the air temperatures begins warming up well in May. In April, there is still a chance of frost. Cold weather crops like peas, radishes and chard can still be planted, however more delicate vegetables and fruits should be planted later so the plants don't freeze.

Cold frames can also be used. For some semi-hardy crops, it is a good idea to use covers that can protect the seedling plants, and yet which can be removed during the day to give the little plants sunshine. 

Pre-planting

Planting the seeds in peat pots or similar, a couple weeks before they would normally be planted outside, should lengthen the growing season. With the head start, the plants can take off and produce sooner than they would if they were planted by seed, directly in the soil outside. 

Ground preparation

The soil in northwest Montana tends to be rich and fertile. However, it can also be rocky. Turn over the soil in the planting site so the rocks can be removed. This is also a great time to add finished compost to give the plants even more of a boost as they grow. Since the dirt is being turned over anyway, this mixes the compost in. If the soil is too rocky, a person can have great success with a raised bed or with container gardening.

Wind protection

Normally not known for having high winds, Montana can still become windy. This can be devastating to young fruit and vegetable plants. To guard against this, windbreaks can be created. Even tarps will work, if they are connected to poles and are anchored at the bottom. These shouldn't be so close to the plants that sunlight is blocked, though.

Animal protection

Montana is rightfully known for its number of wild animals, and the northwest has an abundance. This means that a gardener needs to become a bit inventive to keep the deer, big horns, goats, rabbits and other vegetable loving critters from getting to the garden plants. This can be anything from double fencing the plants, to using repellents such as boiled fish. It should also be pointed out that the juices from boiling the fish have an additional benefit of feeding the developing plants.

Having a great garden in northwest Montana isn't as hard as a person might think. There are many ways to allow a gardener to be more successful than they otherwise might be. Still, when a person wants to have a garden and has the room for it, there is no reason a person can't have a productive and beautiful garden.

Learn more about this author, Rex Trulove.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.