Growing Beets in Idaho: Soil, Sowing and Bolting
Beets grow reliably in Idaho once two things line up: the ground’s acidity gets checked before a seed goes in, and the first six weeks after sowing stay…
Gardening in Idaho
Everything we have worked out for Idaho: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Boise, the last spring freeze runs April 23 to May 7 and the first fall freeze runs October 7 to October 21, USDA zones 3b-7b, 3,309 growing degree days in the year.
Garlic does well: 26.1 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in Idaho: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
When to Plant Potatoes in Idaho: Counting Back From Your Last Frost
Boise’s last spring frost falls between April 23 and May 7, based on 1991-2020 Climate Normals from NOAA NCEI.
Harvesting and Storing Potatoes in Idaho
Idaho’s potato crop comes out of the ground on a tight calendar dictated by a frost date that arrives earlier than most people expect, and the state’s…
Potato Varieties That Suit Idaho
Idaho’s potato country runs on two numbers: a spring frost window and a soil temperature ceiling.
Growing Carrots in Idaho: Soil, Sowing and Forked Roots
Idaho’s representative state soil, the Threebear series, is a light volcanic-ash soil that drains well and holds moisture better than most, but it runs…
What to Plant in Idaho in September
In Boise, September still runs largely frost-free, with the first fall freeze typically landing between October 7 and October 21.
What to Plant in Idaho in October
October in Idaho straddles the average first fall frost window for the Boise area, October 7 to October 21, so the safe answer changes depending on which…
What to Plant in Idaho in November
In most of Idaho, November lands well after the ground has already frozen or is close to it, so this isn’t a month for sowing seed outdoors and expecting…
What to Plant in Idaho in May
May is when Idaho’s growing season finally opens up for real. In the Boise valley, the frost window that runs April 23 to May 7 is winding down, so…
What to Plant in Idaho in March
March in Idaho falls weeks before the last spring frost window, so the ground is still cold across nearly the whole state.