Steve Albert
Here’s a quick outdoor seed sowing schedule for spring. These suggestions are on the conservative side. Hardy vegetables can withstand frost and will grow best in cool weather, coming to maturity before the weather turns hot. Tender crops can not withstand frost. If you plant tender crops and frost threatens, use a cloche or row cover to keep them warm.
Approximate date of last spring frost:_________________________
| Very Hardy | Hardy | Semi-hardy | Tender | Heat-loving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow 5-7 weeks before last frost | Sow 2-3 weeks before last frost | Sow 1-2 weeks before last frost | Sow on or just after last frost | Sow 2-3 weeks after last frost |
| Dill | Chervil | Beets | Beans | Cantaloupe* |
| Garlic | Coriander | Broccoli* | Corn | Cucumber |
| Leeks | Lettuce | Brussels sprouts* | Pumpkin | Lima beans |
| Onions (seeds/sets) | Mustard | Carrots | Summer squash | Eggplants* |
| Peas | Parsley | Cabbage* | Winter squash | Peanuts |
| Shallots | Turnip greens | Cauliflower* | Zucchini | Peppers* |
| Spinach | Chard | Sweet potatoes | ||
| Kale | Tomatoes* | |||
| Kohlrabi | Watermelon | |||
| Parsnips | ||||
| Potatoes | ||||
| Radish | ||||
* Best as transplants: start indoors 6 weeks before transplanting to garden.
This is my first year in Northern Idaho. Any help on zoning would be appreciated.
Check with a local garden center or the nearby cooperative extension to find out when the average last frost date is where you live. In all likelihood the average last frost date in your part of Idaho will fall in the second or third week of May. And your first frost in fall will fall between the middle of September and the middle of October. That means you will have a growing season of 115 to 150 days or so. You can plan your season accordingly. You can extend the season by starting seeds indoors for planting out when temperatures are right for the crops you are growing or you can use a plastic hoop tunnel or cold frame to help extend the season.