It’s pretty well known around the Boise area that you don’t put your plants in the ground until the snow is off Bogus. But you can still get your seeds started so you’re ready to have fresh produce and plants all year!
Boise is in Planting Zone 7, meaning it’s generally safe to start getting your seeds in the ground from mid-March to May.
Here are some tips to get you started off strong:
If you’re just getting started with gardening, don’t feel like you have to go all in. Start small with one or two garden beds and learn what is working and what isn’t. You may have to move your beds around for the best sun conditions. You can always add more garden beds as you get the hang of it!
You’ll also want to make a consistent watering plan. There are several different ways to water your plants with various degrees of investment. You can easily set a reminder on your phone and water your plants with a pail or hose. If you have the funds to spend, you can also get a drip line setup or install a sprinkler system just for your plants.
If you’re renting an apartment or just don’t have a large yard, you can still have a successful garden without taking up a lot of space. You’ll want to look for self watering pots or raised garden beds. These containers have a reservoir on the bottom that you just fill with water once a week. The water evaporates up into the soil and reaches the roots.
You can go ahead and get your seeds started now indoors for not a lot of money! Make sure you can place them in an area that gets quite a bit of sun, and maybe consider investing in grow lights or heat mats to help them get started. All you need to get is small pots or biodegradable containers (so you can put them right into the ground!), seed starting soil and of course … seeds.
When you get ready to set up your beds and pots outdoors, you’ll want to do a mix of compost and soil. The City of Boise has a free compost program where you can go with containers and a shovel and get all the compost you want. Compost improves plant health and provides additional nutrients to your garden.
If you have more questions about gardening or just can’t wait to get started, the Boise area is home to a ton of garden stores! Edwards Greenhouse, North End Organic Nursery and ZamZows are all great places to get started.
Happy gardening!
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