What to plant this week in Boise, ID
With the last frost in Boise typically passing on April 3, your garden is officially open for warm-season sowing and transplanting. This week marks a critical window to move heat-loving crops like basil, zucchini, and beans from indoors or into prepared beds before night temperatures drop near freezing.
The next 7 days
Boise, IDGrowing in Boise right now
- Boise's high elevation (4,200 ft) means the growing season is shorter than lowland zone 7a areas; prioritize fast-maturing varieties for warm-season crops like corn and beans to ensure they ripen before early November frosts.
- The city sits in a valley surrounded by basalt ridges that create strong cold air drainage pools near the Boise River, so avoid planting frost-sensitive seedlings directly on flat ground where cold air settles at night.
- Soil here often contains clay subsoils and can be prone to compaction; amend heavy spots with compost before transplanting squash or melons to prevent root rot in our semi-arid climate.
- Water conservation is key given the region's dry summers; use drip irrigation for your new cucumbers and pumpkins to reduce evaporation and keep foliage dry against local powdery mildew.
Sow this week
No direct sowing windows open this week.
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
37 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Honeydew Melon
- Lima Bean
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Malabar Spinach
- Nasturtium
- Okra
- Pole Bean
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Potato
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Succession sow bush beans or carrots every two weeks to extend your summer harvest window.
- Pinch back the tips of basil and Italian herbs like summer savory to encourage bushier growth before frost.
- Start planning your fall crop rotation; avoid planting nightshades in beds that held them last year.
- Apply a light layer of compost around perennials now to strengthen roots for winter dormancy.
Pest & disease watch
- Spider mites can explode quickly on stressed plants during Boise's hot, windy afternoons in late spring, so inspect undersides of leaves on tomatoes and peppers daily.
- Late-season flea beetle damage may appear on young brassicas if you have transplanted kale or broccoli, but this is less common with the warm-weather crops we are focusing on now.
- Watch for squash vine borers attacking your zucchini and summer squash plants as they mature, especially when nights remain cool in the valley bottom.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to keep roots hydrated during heat waves while reducing fungal risks on leafy greens.
Harvest watermelons when they make a hollow sound upon tapping, ensuring you get the sweetest fruit before the first frost hits.
Boise gardening questions
3When exactly should I stop hardening off my transplants before putting them outside?
Since Boise's average last frost is April 3, you can begin moving hardy starts like beans and cucumbers outdoors once night lows consistently stay above 40°F. However, protect seedlings with row covers if a sudden drop to freezing occurs after the typical date.
What specific varieties work best for our short summer here?
Choose bush bean types rather than pole beans if you want a harvest before the first frost in early November, as they mature much faster. For corn and squash, look for 'early' or 'short-season' labels to ensure full maturity within our limited window.
How do I handle watering without wasting water in this climate?
Water deeply but infrequently using drip systems rather than overhead sprinklers to minimize evaporation from the dry air. Mulch heavily around the base of your melons and pumpkins to retain moisture and keep soil temperatures stable.
Other cities in zone 7a
12See the full zone 7a guide → · Plan your Boise garden in SproutGuide →