Watering Through a Dry Spell in Idaho
Idaho gardens face a real dry stretch each summer: just 0.17 inches of rain falls in August, the driest month, while the region sees an average of 47.5…
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.
Watering Pots and Containers in Idaho
Idaho’s summer climate sets a strict water budget for gardens and containers: driest month rainfall drops to 0.17 inches while 47.5 days a year push past…
When to Plant Onions in Idaho
Onions in Idaho go into the ground in late winter to early spring, once the soil can be worked, not in autumn.
The Best Onion Varieties for Idaho
At 43.57 degrees north, Boise’s longest day delivers 15 hours and 15 minutes of daylight.
Forcing Spring Bulbs Indoors in Idaho
Forcing spring bulbs indoors in Idaho works because the state already has cold to spare outdoors; the trick is getting that same chill into a pot sitting…
Growing Spring Bulbs in Containers in Idaho
Growing spring bulbs in containers works across Idaho, but two separate problems hide behind that one sentence.
Growing Potatoes in Idaho: Dates, Varieties and Summer Heat
Yes, Idaho grows potatoes about as well as anywhere in the country, but the reason isn’t luck.
Canning at Altitude in Idaho: What Your Elevation Changes
If you can at Boise’s elevation of 2,700 feet, you’re canning above the point where altitude starts mattering.
The Best Grass Seed for Idaho Lawns
Idaho’s transition-zone climate means cool-season and warm-season grasses both have real drawbacks, so choosing the best seed depends on your water and winter color tolerance.
The Best Apple Varieties for Idaho
Idaho’s apple success depends more on bloom timing against spring frost than on winter cold, and the safest window varies by elevation.