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Northern Gardening

Is anyone here from Southern Idaho?

18 years ago

Hi everyone! I just moved into my first home here in Bear Lake Idaho. I came from Oregon where there is no snow, to -25 degree temps and 4 feet in my yard! I am not sure when to get my seeds started indoors, I have no idea when this awful weather will end. Can anyone give me advice on when to start my seeds, and what flowers grow here?

Thanks~~

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Comments (6)

sharons2
18 years ago
I'm in Bear Lake, but I usually go to the Far North forum, so I didn't see your posting until now.

The average last frost date is May 30th, and most people plant their gardens on Memorial Day. I have probably about 100 different perennials growing here, so you can grow quite a bit. Zone 4 plants are good, Zone 3 plants are even better. For trees, you are safer if you stick with Zone 3 or lower.

Secrist Gardens is by the lake, and they know a lot about what will grow in this area, too.
mla2ofus
17 years ago
Hi. I'm just west of you in Soda Springs. I think I've talked to you, Sharon, before. I just jumped in because, as a rule, I head to Pocatello greenhouses and I haven't heard about Secrist Gardens. Do they by any chance grow their own plants?
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There's a lot of great advice here. I just wanted to share my first thought which is, "Yikes!" Additionally, here's a story/fable I've always loved that you could share with your family about a Mexican fisherman: An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. The Mexican replied, “only a little while. The American then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish? The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs. The American then asked, “but what do you do with the rest of your time?” The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siestas with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine, and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life.” The American scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually New York City, where you will run your expanding enterprise.” The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, how long will this all take?” To which the American replied, “15 – 20 years.” “But what then?” Asked the Mexican. The American laughed and said, “That’s the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions!” “Millions – then what?” The American said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.”
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drgnflyz
17 years ago
Howdy smartcookie23 . I am in Idaho Falls, also zone 4. How is your spring progressing?
drgnflyz
17 years ago
Hey Idahoans- these great folks have created a space for Idaho gardeners! No more drifting around looking for a space to chat and learn! Hooray!
LorifromUtah
17 years ago
Hi smartcookie!
I live south of you, just across the Utah border.
There is a good nursery in Garden City that carries some hardy plants for our severe climate.
Lilacs and rhubarb are the only sure thing I can grow out here!

Where is the Idaho Gardner forum?
Can you give us a link drgnflyz?

Lori
sharons2
17 years ago
Hmmm. I think I could stand to check in on the Northern Forum more often. There is a link to the Idaho Gardner forum in the "What's New on GardenWeb" area at the top of any forum you choose. It has been slow getting going.

Mla2ofus, I have talked to you before. What are the good Pocatello greenhouses? And how hard are they to find from I-15? I have to go back to Idaho Falls in 2 weeks, but I've already checked out the nurseries there.

I think I just barely noticed the Nursery in Garden City, too. What is it called? Needles and Pines? It's on highway 89.

Secrist Gardens is a little harder to find, since it's not on the highway. It is up by North Beach, so you need to turn at The Bear Cave and drive past East Beach to get there. Lately, they've had a sign next to a dirt road a little farther south that says "Lakeside Nursery" on it.

The Secrists buy plugs (I believe) and plant them in gallon containers in the summer and fall and then overwinter them before they are sold. The gallons are usually $3 each, though a few plants cost a little bit more. They don't push their plants ahead with fertilizers, but they do mix up some excellent potting soil. They only sell perennial flowers, and their display garden is one of the best that I've seen. They have a 4-year rotation schedule for the plants that they sell, so the colors they have available change from year to year.

Sharon

Here is a link that might be useful: Idaho Gardening Forum

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