What to plant this week in Boise, ID
With the average last frost date in Boise just three days away on April 3, gardeners are entering the critical final stretch before risking tender seedlings outdoors. This week marks the transition from hardening off transplants to sowing those warm-season crops that thrive in our unique Snake River Valley heat.
The next 7 days
Boise, IDGrowing in Boise right now
- Boise's spring winds can be harsh; protect young Basil, Shiso, and Zinnia with row covers until nights consistently stay above 50°F after the April 3 frost window closes.
- Our valley soil dries quickly under intense sun, so water newly planted Cucumbers, Melons, and Okra deeply every other day this week to establish roots before the dry spell sets in.
- Take advantage of our rapid warming temperatures by sowing Fast-Maturing Sweet Corn and Bush Beans indoors now; they won't get a long enough outdoor season if delayed.
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
- Thin out overcrowded seedlings to give remaining plants room for air circulation and sun.
- Apply a light layer of straw mulch around warm-weather crops to retain soil moisture during heat waves.
- Practice succession sowing with fast-maturing beans or radishes every two weeks to extend your harvest window.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch closely for aphids clustering on the new growth of Pole Beans and Scarlet Runner Beans as temperatures rise above 60°F.
- Monitor Cabbage family crops like Coleus (often used in gardens) or nearby brassicas for early flea beetle damage before the main planting window opens.
- Prevent squash vine borers by inspecting Zucchini and Summer Squash stems weekly; wrapping young plants in cardboard can deter egg-laying females.
Watering this week
Water deeply at the base of plants in the early morning to reduce evaporation and prevent fungal diseases on wet foliage.
Harvest basil leaves regularly by pinching off stems just above a leaf pair to encourage bushier growth rather than flowering.
Boise gardening questions
3Can I transplant my Garlic now even though the frost date is April 3?
Yes, Boise soil has warmed enough to allow late Garlic plantings this week. Push cloves in shallowly and keep them consistently moist until they establish roots before the first hard freeze of November.
When should I start my Sweet Corn indoors for a successful harvest?
Since our season is short, start Sweet Corn seeds indoors now to ensure they mature before the late September frost. Aim for varieties labeled 'Early' or 'Short Season' so you can pull them in by mid-October.
What do I do if my Watermelon seedlings are leggy inside?
Move those stretched Watermelon and Gourd plants to a south-facing window immediately for maximum light. Once the danger of frost passes on April 3, harden them off gradually over two weeks before moving them to your sunny Boise garden bed.
Other cities in zone 7a
12See the full zone 7a guide → · Plan your Boise garden in SproutGuide →