Idaho Vegetable Planting Calendar/Guide (ID): Month Wise, Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer, Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, and Zone 7

Many people like growing their vegetables at home. Some people garden to relax and obtain exercise. Some people seek to grow exotic cultivars you can’t get in shops because of their rarity. In contrast, others are motivated by a desire to save money or the superior taste of food they grew. Below we learn the Idaho vegetable planting calendar, month-by-month planting schedules for growing vegetables in Idaho, the planting zones of Idaho, and different vegetables to grow in Idaho home gardens.

Idaho vegetable planting calendar/Guide (ID)

When should I plant tomatoes in Idaho?

Below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, tomatoes die. Therefore, they won’t survive if you put them outdoors before spring. The season’s first frost can ruin your tomato crop if you plant them too late. You should watch the spring forecast, but not as closely as you should. In particular, you should keep track of the date of the last frost. If there hasn’t been a frost in two weeks, you can probably plant your tomatoes outdoors in Idaho. The final frost is delayed for some years until later in the season.

In Idaho, the final frost can arrive early some years, allowing for earlier tomato planting. Planting a tomato seed inside and nurturing it to maturity takes around 40-60 days. Another thing to remember is that putting your tomato plants outdoors (in their pots) for an hour is the ideal way to do it. They should start spending an hour a day outdoors and gradually work up to eight hours. Because of this, your tomato plant will be “hardened” or strengthened in its ability to withstand pests, diseases, extreme temperatures, and water shortages.

When should I plant my garden in North Idaho?

If you live in a region with a shorter growing season, like northern Idaho, look for plant kinds that reach maturity in 90 days or less. The seed stock sold by local businesses has been selected because it is well suited to our environment, and you can also discover a wide variety of “early producing” varieties. Look for “days to maturity” on the seed packaging to be 90 or fewer.

Even while it is possible to grow cultivars that need more than ninety days to reach maturity, you will probably need to utilize certain strategies that prolong the growing season to get a harvest. When starting with a seed, timing is of the essence. Whether you plan on beginning your seeds inside or putting them directly into the garden, knowing when the typical final day of frost is in your area is essential. Remember that May 15 is only an average date and applies exclusively to northern Idaho.

When the soil in your garden is workable in the spring, prepare your vegetable beds by gently digging in some well-rotted manure and compost. Soil should be moist and crumbly but not soggy; if it forms a ball when pressed, or worse, water comes out, it is too wet to work with. If you don’t let the soil dry up a little first, you’ll end up with clumps of rock-hard soil that are next to impossible to work with. Two to four weeks before the final average frost, you can directly plant into the garden most cold-season crops like peas, carrots, and lettuce.

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Beans, cucumbers, and squash are just a few examples of warm-season plants that are very sensitive to frost and will die if exposed to prolonged periods of chilly, damp weather. Plant these seeds outside only after the threat of frost has passed, normally around the middle of May to the beginning of June. To thrive, warm-season plants need not just bright daylight but also cool evenings and warm soil, ideally about 55 degrees.

What zone is Idaho in for planting?

Planting zones range from 3b in the far eastern section of Idaho to 7b in the center and western regions of the state. Knowing the various growth zones in Idaho is the first step toward a fruitful garden. Discovering your gardening hardiness zone in Idaho couldn’t be easier, thanks to hardiness maps. Hardy plants can only survive the winter and the freezing temperatures common in lower-zone locations. Hence only such plants are considered hardy in that region.

The greatest method to ensure your garden thrives year after year is to choose plants suited to your temperature zone. The climate of Idaho spans a wide range, and so do its plant hardiness zones. There are four distinct seasons in much of the state, although the spring and summer months in the higher mountain regions are known for their harsh weather. The state is just 350 miles from the Pacific Ocean, yet the marine effect can be felt across the state, especially in the western region.

The eastern part of the state is representative of the semiarid continental climate of the rest of the country. The southern half of the state enjoys cooler summers on average, while the northern half gets more rain overall. Extremes of both summer heat and winter cold are conceivable everywhere in the state. Colder than 0 degrees Celsius temperatures don’t last long, however.

How do you grow tomatoes in Idaho?

Plant seeds within six to eight weeks before the average frost date from the previous year. After the threat of frost has gone in Idaho, plants can be started inside in the middle to late part of March. Put 4–6 seeds in each pot after filling it 3/4 of the way with a wet seed-starting mix. Spread a thin coating of soil mix over the area, then use a spray bottle to spread the soil softly. Wrap the pots in plastic wrap or set them inside a container with a cover made of transparent material.

Temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal for germinating tomato seeds, and germination will occur in 7 days. Plants need to be moved to a sunny window after the first signs of growth appear. Indoor daytime temperatures between 75°F and 85°F and night-time temperatures between 65°F and 70°F are ideal for optimum development. Grow lights and heat mats aren’t necessary for germination, but they can aid if falling short of the ideal conditions.

Take the lid off the pot after the seedlings reach an inch. Keep an eye on the soil’s moisture levels daily; it should stay moist. Three weeks after germinating seeds, seedlings can be transplanted into separate pots when they have developed their first genuine leaves. Because of their extreme vulnerability, tomato seedlings must be hardened before being placed in the garden. Plants can gradually adjust to the outdoors by taking this step. Without adequate hardening, plants in the garden risk dying off rapidly.

Harden off your plants seven to ten days before you want to put them in the garden. The weather is a major factor; it must be at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the day with low wind and no precipitation. Plants should be placed in a shaded location for 15 to 20 minutes. Avoid exposing your young seedlings to direct sunlight during the first several days. Transfer the plants to filtered sunlight after they have adjusted. Tender plant stems can be stronger by limiting their water supply and waiting for colder weather.

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How long is the growing season in Idaho?

If you want your garden to grow as much produce as possible, you need to sow your seeds and transplants at the right time. The average number of days that pass in Idaho until the state experiences its next frost is roughly 145. The USDA plant hardiness zones that are in effect in Idaho are 3-7. To plant vegetable seeds at the optimal time, you need to know when the first and last frosts normally occur in your location.

What kind of vegetables can you grow in Idaho?

Vegetables such as peas, onions, carrots, cabbage, beets, spinach, radishes, lettuce, chard, turnips, and chard do well in an early Idaho garden. Before sowing seedlings or transplanting warm-season crops, all danger of frost must be eliminated, including corn, tomatoes, melons, eggplant, peppers, beans, and squash. This is because warm-season crops are more easily destroyed by frost.

What vegetables and fruits grow well in Idaho?

Many different types of vegetables and fruits thrive in Idaho’s climate, including peas, tomatoes, cherries, lettuce, kale, onions, chard, the cabbage family, beets, carrots, spinach, beans, corn, eggplant, melons, apples, peaches, squash, apricots, plums, peppers, radishes, turnips, and table grapes.

When should I start a garden in Idaho?

When the first and last frosts occur are the determining factors in every aspect of the season. Locations in hardiness zone 5 typically see their last yearly frost around April 15th and their first frost around October 16th. These dates will be important since they determine the best time to plant.

When starting seeds indoors, the best time to do it for most crops is between six and eight weeks before the typical date of the last spring frost. Plant seeds indoors in the middle of April for optimal growth. Planting seeds indoors in the South is a good idea since the last frost might come as early as February.

What can I plant now in Idaho?

Spring gardening in Idaho 

Start early on your spring gardening activities in late February to avoid the mad rush when warmer weather arrives. The annual and perennial blooming plants, such as marigolds, penstemons, zinnias, and herbs like thyme, require a little longer to become established before they are ready to put out in the yard, so now is a good time to start them inside. Indoor seed beginning materials, such as seed starting trays, peat pots, and seed starting soil, should be checked and prepared before you put those seeds.

The problem can be in your garden’s soil if plants haven’t been flourishing there. It’s important to remember that soil conditions vary widely within the State. To find out what nutrients and amendments your soil can be lacking and what you should add to make it more fertile and productive, you should get it analyzed by a reputable private lab or the University of Idaho extension office. A soil test will typically cost about $50.

Fall gardening in Idaho 

There are undoubtedly some crops whose output is beginning to decline or has stopped entirely. Get rid of those plants to create room for your cool-season harvest. Clean the area by pulling or digging out weeds and dead plants. You generally won’t need to reapply any soil amendments (compost, rotten manure, soil conditioners, etc.) used in the spring. Adding some compost to your seedlings is not a terrible idea.

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Once your seeds germinate or your transplants are established, put a layer of mulch in your garden to suppress weed growth and, more critically, to maintain soil temperature and moisture levels. Mulching is essential for the success of cool-season crops, which thrive in cool soil. You can also use pine needles, leaves, grass clippings, or chopped straw. If you’re looking for mulch, be sure it doesn’t include herbicides. Never use straw that has been “certified weed-free,” and never use grass clippings from herbicide-treated lawns.

The lingering herbicides can damage your plants. Lettuce is sensitive to heat and will bolt and become bitter if grown in the summer. This is the perfect time to reseed your lettuce garden. Many early types are available. Endive is one of the greatest lettuces to plant in the autumn. Also suitable for planting at this time are root vegetables. Since radishes typically take 30 days to develop, you can plant a new crop every week from early spring until late October. 

Watermelon radishes, for example, are best planted in the autumn and harvested then. Baby beets and tender beet greens are a great addition to an autumn salad. Cilantro thrives in the chilly weather, so you’ll have a bumper harvest just in time to make salsa. We can extend our growing season by establishing a cool-weather garden in the fall. Most of these plants can endure light frost, and some, like kale and spinach, even improve in flavor after being frostbitten.

Summer gardening in Idaho 

Peppers, tomatoes, and eggplants should all be planted by now. Depending on your location, many veggies will continue to develop and yield even more swiftly from seed sown in June when the soil is fully warmed and bursting with life. Planting beans in Idaho in June is ideal. Some varieties of beans can be harvested in as little as 35 days when planted in warm soil. If you want a quick snack later this summer, Idahoans plant beets now. 

Some of the simplest garden plants to cultivate are cabbages. Choose a species appropriate to your latitude and longitude. When cabbage head formation starts, it is time to fertilize and water the plants. Carrots planted in Idaho around the middle of June will provide a harvest in late summer that may be stored in the garden until needed. One of the most profitable summer crops because of how quickly it matures.

Corn is best when removed from the stalk no more than a few minutes before. Start with a little corn patch and work your way up to a whole field. Cucumbers can be grown in abundance from vine or bush plants. Consider the size of your garden care while deciding on a plant type. While vine-grown cucumbers have the potential to be the most flavorful, they need far more area than their bush-grown counterparts. Indoor or outdoor, heat-loving herbs like basil, oregano, thyme, and sage can be planted in all Zones. 

Melon is a summertime favorite, and for a good reason: it’s refreshing and delicious, making it perfect for family gatherings and picnics over long, hot days. Depending on the temperature in Idaho, green peas and sugar peas can be planted in June for a fantastic summer harvest of fresh, crisp peas. You’ll get delicious, fresh produce in July and August if you plant your summer squash and zucchini seeds in June.

Winter gardening in Idaho 

Although Idaho’s winter landscape can be stunning, it’s not uncommon to see nothing but snow and drab. Nonetheless, various plants may be grown in a garden, each of which will provide a welcome dash of color to an otherwise grey and white winter scene. Some options worth considering are as follows: 

Some vegetables are considered “half-hardy,” meaning they can survive temperatures between 29 and 32 degrees Fahrenheit without harm. Leaf lettuce, Swiss chard, salad greens, arugula, and endive are just a few of the greens on the list. Light frosts do not affect savoy cabbage and radicchio, while Asian greens like mizuna, tatsoi, and Chinese cabbage continue to grow and flourish.

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The Irish potato, beet, rutabaga, and carrot are just a few of the root vegetables that can be classified here. Other winter vegetables are hardy, meaning they can survive cold temperatures (about 25°C/77°F) without damage. Some can live in their teens and low 20s. Kale, spinach, and collard greens are the best cold-weather crop. Broccoli, English peas, kohlrabi, Brussels sprouts, and leeks are some more resilient vegetable options.

Radishes and turnips are two examples of hardy root crops that provide edible greens. Kale, mustard greens, and collard greens are other hearty options. In addition to the winter above herbs, we can also use parsley. Some vegetables, known as “hardy winter vegetables,” are suited to growing outside in the early spring and the late summer.

If you’re familiar with the types of winter vegetables you can grow, it’s up to you and your loved ones to decide which ones to attempt. Soups and stews made with kale, radicchio, leeks, winter herbs, and various winter root vegetables will have a substantial, satisfying flavor. Winter greens are a must for salads, while Asian greens, winter root vegetables, winter herbs, and Chinese cabbage are all options.

Idaho vegetable planting calendar

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Conclusion 

The growing season in Idaho can run as long as seven months in the state’s warmer regions. A tiny garden that is well cared for can be as productive as a vast one that is ignored. Adding organic material in the autumn will give it plenty of time to decompose before spring planting. A raised bed is an excellent method to get clay soils ready for planting in the spring and improve drainage.

The addition of natural predators like ladybugs can help reduce insect populations. If you live in the following towns, cities, and counties of Idaho (ID) of Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, and Zone 7 in the United States, this article may help understand the vegetable planting calendar, month-wise chart along with planting seasons.

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