New ground, same roots — gardening in a new area

Moving to a new area means adjusting to unfamiliar terrain, different weather patterns, soil types, and growing seasons. For gardeners, that can be both exciting and a little intimidating. Eastern Idaho’s high elevation, cool nights, short growing season, and variable soils offer a unique challenge, but not an impossible one.

Eastern Idaho’s growing conditions vary from one location to another, but some things are more universal. We have short growing seasons, frost free days average between 90 and 100 days, with some areas as low as just two or three weeks. With a short growing season, you must pay close attention to the weather and be prepared to cover your most tender plants any month of the year. Prepare yourself for unpredictable frosts by utilizing season extension tools like row covers and high tunnels. Our nights are cool, even in the summer which benefits cool season crops like peas and carrots. Most of our soils have a high pH and low organic matter, meaning that soil amendments are likely to benefit your soil.

While there may be many differences, some things remain constant when gardening. The same tools, techniques, and mindset can serve you well as you adapt to your new environment. In addition, your gardening know-how can help you keep your pest free. For example, space your plants so that they get proper airflow to reduce fungi and bacterial diseases, rotate your crops to increase soil health and reduce pressure from pests, and compost kitchen and yard waste to build organic matter. These skills translate anywhere; you just need to adjust to match local timing and conditions.

The mindset of a gardener is the most important tool you can bring. Curiosity, patience, and a willingness to experiment are your most valuable tools. Success in any garden depends on observing, adjusting, and enjoying the process, not just the harvest.

So, what does grow well in Eastern Idaho? Here are just a few starting points, I always encourage people new to the area to talk to their neighbors, local Extension Educators, and nurseries and garden stores to understand what they have success with.

Eastern Idaho’s unique growing conditions support a wide variety of plants—if you choose varieties suited to the climate and soil. Cool-season vegetables like peas, carrots, lettuce, spinach, broccoli, and cabbage thrive in our shorter seasons and cool nights. For warm-season crops, it’s important to look for varieties with shorter days to maturity. Vegetables like zucchini, bush beans, and potatoes can be quite successful when planted after the last frost and harvested before the early fall chill sets in.

Fruit growers in the area enjoy success with many varieties of apples, provided they’re chosen based on the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for local hardiness. Small fruits like raspberries, strawberries, currants, and gooseberries are reliable producers in our climate. One fruit I’m especially enthusiastic about is the honeyberry (or Haskap). These berries are perfectly suited to our cool climate and alkaline soils, and I believe they hold great potential for both backyard and small-scale commercial growers in the region.

When it comes to ornamental plants, a wide variety of perennial flowers such as coneflower, penstemon, and black-eyed Susans bring color and resilience to Eastern Idaho gardens. Bulbs like tulips, daffodils, and allium also perform well, providing early spring blooms. For structure and long-term beauty, shrubs like lilac, spirea, and serviceberry not only thrive here but also support pollinators and local wildlife.

Grasses are another key element to both lawns and landscapes. Kentucky bluegrass is a popular choice for lawns due to its thick, lush growth, though it requires significant watering. More drought-tolerant options include fine fescue, which also tolerates shade, and tall fescue, known for its heat and wear resistance. For pastures or low-maintenance native landscapes, grasses such as crested wheatgrass, bluebunch wheatgrass, and sheep fescue are dependable performers that handle our region’s variable climate well.

One of the most enjoyable parts of gardening is sharing it with others. Join the local Master Gardener programs, attend Extension workshops, or participate in community gardens and seed swaps. These groups can help you quickly learn what works in your specific area and give you a chance to share what you have brought with you.