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Boise, Idaho · vegetable planting calendar
What to plant now in Boise
This month's sowing list for Boise, what is ready to pick, when to plant the favourites, the planting year at a glance and the local frost dates.
October
1 vegetable to sow or plant now
1 of them are at their best time to start. The last frost is usually around May 1, and frost is unlikely after about May 14.
Sow or plant in Boise in October
Start seeds indoors
Nothing this month.
Direct sow
Nothing this month.
Transplant
- Garlic
Ready to pick in October
- Arugula
- Beets
- Bok choy
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Carrot
- Cauliflower
- Chives
- Cilantro
- Dill
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Parsley
- Radish
- Scallions
- Strawberry
- Swiss chard
- Turnip
Coming up in November
Nothing new starts in November. This month's list carries on.
When to plant the favourites in Boise
Tomatoes
Start seeds indoors: April to May.
Transplant: May to July.
Best time to start: May.
Pick: August to September.
First pick about 16 weeks after starting.
Potatoes
Plant: April to May.
Best time to start: April.
Pick: July to September.
First pick about 11 weeks after starting.
Garlic
Plant: September to November.
Best time to start: September to November.
Pick: May to July.
First pick about 36 weeks after starting.
Lettuce
Direct sow: March to May and September.
Best time to start: March to May and September.
Pick: June and October to December.
First pick about 7 weeks after starting.
Carrots
Direct sow: March to May and August.
Best time to start: March to May and August.
Pick: June to December.
First pick about 9 weeks after starting.
Bush beans
Direct sow: May to July.
Best time to start: May to July.
Pick: July to September.
First pick about 7 weeks after starting.
Onions
Start seeds indoors: January to April.
Transplant: March to May.
Best time to start: March to May.
Pick: July to September.
First pick about 20 weeks after starting.
Strawberries
Plant: April to June.
Best time to start: April to June.
Pick: August to November.
First pick about 14 weeks after starting.
Winter squash
Start seeds indoors: May to June.
Direct sow: May to June.
Transplant: May to June.
Best time to start: May to June.
Pick: August to September.
First pick about 13 weeks after starting.
Zucchini
Start seeds indoors: May to July.
Direct sow: May to July.
Transplant: May to August.
Best time to start: May to July.
Pick: July to September.
First pick about 6 weeks after starting.
The planting year in Boise
- Start seeds indoors
- Direct sow
- Transplant
- Pick
- Paler: possible, but not the best time
| Vegetable | O | N | D | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | First pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arugula | S | S | S | S | about 5 weeks | ||||||||
| Basil | T | S | S | P | about 7 weeks | ||||||||
| Beets | S | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | |||||||
| Bell pepper | T | P | P | P | about 16 weeks | ||||||||
| Bok choy | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 5 weeks | |||||
| Broccoli | T | T | P | T | P | about 14 weeks | |||||||
| Bush beans | S | S | S | about 7 weeks | |||||||||
| Cabbage | T | T | P | about 15 weeks | |||||||||
| Cantaloupe | S | P | about 9 weeks | ||||||||||
| Carrot | S | S | S | S | about 9 weeks | ||||||||
| Cauliflower | T | P | about 13 weeks | ||||||||||
| Celery | T | P | about 22 weeks | ||||||||||
| Chives | T | S | S | S | T | P | P | about 8 weeks | |||||
| Cilantro | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | |||||||||
| Cucumber | T | S | S | P | about 6 weeks | ||||||||
| Dill | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | ||||||||
| Eggplant | T | T | P | P | about 17 weeks | ||||||||
| Fava beans | S | S | about 13 weeks | ||||||||||
| Garlic | P | P | P | about 36 weeks | |||||||||
| Hot pepper | T | P | P | P | about 18 weeks | ||||||||
| Kale | S | S | S | T | S | P | about 8 weeks | ||||||
| Leek | T | T | P | P | about 21 weeks | ||||||||
| Lettuce | S | S | S | S | about 7 weeks | ||||||||
| Okra | S | about 6 weeks | |||||||||||
| Onion | T | T | P | P | P | about 20 weeks | |||||||
| Parsley | T | S | S | S | T | S | P | about 8 weeks | |||||
| Peas | S | S | about 11 weeks | ||||||||||
| Pole beans | S | S | S | about 8 weeks | |||||||||
| Potato | P | P | about 11 weeks | ||||||||||
| Radish | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 4 weeks | ||||||
| Runner beans | S | about 9 weeks | |||||||||||
| Scallions | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | ||||||
| Spinach | S | S | about 8 weeks | ||||||||||
| Strawberry | P | P | P | about 14 weeks | |||||||||
| Sweet corn | S | S | S | about 9 weeks | |||||||||
| Swiss chard | S | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | |||||||
| Tomato | T | P | P | P | about 16 weeks | ||||||||
| Turnip | S | S | S | S | about 7 weeks | ||||||||
| Watermelon | S | about 10 weeks | |||||||||||
| Winter squash | S | S | about 13 weeks | ||||||||||
| Zucchini | S | S | S | P | about 6 weeks |
The chart starts at October. "First pick" is the usual time from starting to the first harvest.
Choose a quick-maturing (early) variety of: cauliflower.
Choose a heat-tolerant variety of: fava beans.
Boise season by season
Spring March to May
Time to start: arugula, basil, beets, bell pepper, bok choy, bush beans, carrot, celery, chives, cilantro, cucumber, dill, eggplant, fava beans, hot pepper, kale, lettuce, parsley, peas, pole beans, potato, radish, scallions, spinach, strawberry, sweet corn, Swiss chard, tomato, turnip, winter squash and zucchini.
Last chance for: arugula, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, celery, cilantro, dill, fava beans, kale, leek, lettuce, onion, peas, potato, spinach and turnip.
Summer June to August
Time to start: broccoli, cantaloupe, carrot, cauliflower, dill, kale, okra, radish, runner beans and watermelon.
Last chance for: basil, beets, bell pepper, broccoli, bush beans, cantaloupe, carrot, cauliflower, cucumber, eggplant, hot pepper, okra, pole beans, radish, runner beans, scallions, strawberry, sweet corn, Swiss chard, tomato, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.
Fall September to November
Time to start: arugula, cilantro, garlic, lettuce and turnip.
Last chance for: arugula, bok choy, chives, cilantro, dill, garlic, kale, lettuce, parsley, radish and turnip.
Winter December to February
Time to start: broccoli, cabbage, celery, leek and onion.
Last chance for: celery.
Frost in Boise
- Last frost, most years
- around May 1
- Frost is unlikely after
- about May 14
- First frost, most years
- around October 20
- Frost-free days in a year
- about 172
The end of frost is not planting time. Tender plants also need warm nights, which usually come two to four weeks later, and a week or two of hardening off first, so go by the months for each vegetable above. A low corner where cold air settles runs later. Tomatoes, peppers, beans, zucchini, winter squash and basil are the ones to hold back or cover.
Harder to grow in Boise
Needs a greenhouse or a warm, sheltered spot: celeriac, rutabaga and sweet potato.
Too cold here: Brussels sprouts and parsnip.
Questions about planting in Boise
What can I plant now in Boise?
In October, 1 vegetables can be sown or planted in Boise, including garlic. The full list is at the top of this page and changes every month.
When should I plant tomatoes in Boise?
In Boise, sow tomatoes indoors from April to May and transplant them from May to July. The best time to start is in May. Picking runs from August to September.
When should I plant potatoes in Boise?
In Boise, plant potatoes from April to May. The best time to start is in April. Picking runs from July to September.
When should I plant garlic in Boise?
In Boise, plant garlic from September to November. The best time to start is from September to November. Picking runs from May to July.
When is the last frost in Boise?
In most years the last frost in Boise comes around May 1. Frost is unlikely after about May 14, though tender vegetables go out later still, once nights are warm. The first frost of the cold season usually arrives around October 20.
Which vegetables are quickest to grow in Boise?
The quick ones are radish (about 4 weeks), arugula (about 5 weeks), bok choy (about 5 weeks), beets (about 6 weeks), cilantro (about 6 weeks), cucumber (about 6 weeks), scallions (about 6 weeks) and Swiss chard (about 6 weeks). The time is from starting to the first pick.
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These dates are estimates for general guidance, based on the usual weather in Boise. Seasons vary from year to year, so check the seed packet and local advice as well.
Temperatures: Source: Meteostat and its data providers (CC BY 4.0). Crop temperature ranges checked against FAO ECOCROP (CC BY 4.0).