What to Grow in April in Boise

It’s no April Fool’s joke - the weather in April can be raining, snowing, sleeting, hailing and sunny, all in a single day or hour. Am I right? But these plants can withstand those temperature swings and dips below freezing, so don’t use the weather as an excuse not to plant something.

Now would be a great time to schedule your sprinkler turn-on, top off your beds with compost and add in any new items like trellises. If you’d like us to help turn your garden over for the spring, click the button below to inquire about availability and (mention the blog for 10% off). We’re offering one-off coaching sessions for the month of April so folks can get their gardens started on the right foot.

Now, about what to plant. I highly recommend visiting a local nursery (Edwards Greenhouse and North End Organic Nursery) are my favorites and closest to me, or snagging plants at the Boise Farmers Market (which opens April 5). Local plants will be ready to plant, while those at a big box store will be shipped in and not do so well in your garden. Plus, Lowe’s/Home Depot will try to sell tomatoes before it’s even time to plant them.

In terms of transplants, plant out large cole crops like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, collard greens and kale. Look for edible flowers to dress up the edges of your garden like pansies and violas, and add in any herbs that might be missing from your space. It’s easy to keep rosemary, thyme, parsley and cilantro neat and tidy in your garden, but be sure to plant anything like mint, lemon balm or oregano in a separate pot. I like to put these in decorative pots near my barbecue for convenience and decor.

For seeds, sow carrots, beets, radishes, as well as lettuces, spinach, arugula and any other greens you’d like to. This is the last call for sowing pea seeds, as it will soon be too warm for them to thrive well as small plants. If you already have some growing, add another round to really maximize the season.

Happy gardening, y’all! This is my birthday week, so I hope to see you around the nurseries and farmers markets. Please say, “Hi!” and feel free to ask any questions if you see me or a member of the GFG team. We’d love to help you get growing this season and have plenty of room on our coaching calendar for you.