When to plant sweet potatoes in Boise, Idaho

May 31 – June 14

Transplant outdoors · typical Boise year

Climate basis: NOAA station Boise 7 N, ID (USC00101017), 6 mi (9 km) from downtown Boise (ZCTA 83702 centroid), elevation 3885 ft, on the 1991–2020 climate normals. Plant sweet potato slips from approximately the dates above, anchored to the median last spring 32°F freeze (May 17). One year in ten still freezes after June 10.

Last spring freezeMay 171-in-10 after Jun 10
First fall freezeOctober 121-in-10 before Sep 27
Frost-free season147 daysmedian at 32°F
Hard freeze, 28°Apr 27Oct 24kills even hardy greens
USDA zone7a0 to 5°F winter low not frost timing

The Boise year

Transplant outdoorsMay 31 – Jun 14
  • indoors under lights
  • in the garden
  • frost-free season
  • 1-in-10 years still freeze to Jun 10
Sweet potatoes in Boise · freeze context from Boise 7 N, ID, 1991–2020 normals.

Every method, with its sources

Transplant outdoors

May 31 – Jun 14

Purdue: very tender (vegetatively propagated) — plant slips at least two weeks after the average last frost. Anchored to the median last spring freeze (May 17). Purdue University Extension

Start seeds indoors

Not calculated

The cited extension guides do not time an indoor seed-starting window for this crop.

Direct-sow outdoors

Not calculated

Sweet potatoes are grown from slips, not seed.

Fall planting

Not calculated

No source-backed fall planting rule exists for this crop in the registry, so no fall window is calculated.

Variety assumption: Assumes an average variety (about 100–120 days of warm weather from slips).

These windows describe typical years (1991–2020 climate normals), not this year's forecast. Freezes happen outside them — especially in frost pockets, valleys, and urban edges. Watch the forecast before committing tender plants.

This week, not a typical year:
Crop rule sources (1)

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