Spring – Time to Get Growing
Wondering when the best time to start planting your vegetable garden in Nampa, Boise, Caldwell is? Following this spring planting calendar for a successful growing season.
Garden Preparation:
You’ll need to work the soil, add some organic matter and Soil Activator to encourage an ideal growing medium. For any root crops, such as potatoes or carrots, add some bone meal. Now, let’s discuss appropriate planting time for the vegetables in the Treasure Valley.
| Crop (Starting From) | Average Planting Date | Planting Depth (Inches) | Spacing (Inches) |
| Beans (seed) | May 10 | 1-1.5 | 3-4 |
| Beets (seed) | March 25 | 1 | 2-3 |
| Broccoli (plant) | March 15 | 14-24 | |
| Cabbage (seed) | March 15 | .5 | 14-24 |
| Cantaloupe (seed) | May 5 | 1 | 72 |
| Carrots (seed) | April 5 | .5 | 2-3 |
| Cauliflower (plant) | March 15 | 14-24 | |
| Corn (seed) | April 30 | 2 | 10 |
| Cucumber (seed) | May 15 | .5 | 72 |
| Eggplant (seed) | May 10 | .5 | 36 |
| Lettuce, Head (seed) | March 15 | .25 | 12 |
| Lettuce, Leaf (seed) | March 5 | .25 | 6 |
| Onion (set or plant) | March 15 | 1-2 | 2-3 |
| Peas (seed) | March 15 | 2-3 | 1 |
| Pepper (plant) | May 10 | 18-24 | |
| Potato (seed) | March 20 | 4 | 10-12 |
| Radish (seed) | March 15 | .5 | 1 |
| Spinach (seed) | March 5 | .5 | 3-4 |
| Squash (seed) | May 5 | 1-2 | 48 |
| Tomato (plant) | May 10 | 18-36 | |
| Turnip (seed) | March 15 | .25-.5 | 2-3 |
| Watermelon (seed) | May 5 | 1-2 | 96 |
*Special garden tip*
For those who hate to pull endless weeds in the garden, putting weed barrier down prior to planting can greatly reduce the weeding back strain.
Once plants are in, carefully watch the weather for dangerous temperatures. Frost can be detrimental to the tender seedlings. To avoid the possibility of a plant it is a good idea to have “hot caps” or “walls of water” on hand for nighttime protection. Plastic is not an advisable frost protector because the cold will easily transfer through the plastic and potentially frost the plant.
