From Indoors to Outdoors: How to Start Melons, Squash, and Pumpkins for a Perfect Transplant

As winter fades and spring temperatures rise, mid-April is the ideal time to prepare for warm-season crops like squash, melons, and pumpkins. While it is still too early to plant them directly outdoors, taking steps now will ensure a strong start to the growing season.

Since squash, melons, and pumpkins thrive in warm soil (60–70°F), starting them indoors 3 to 4 weeks before your last frost date provides a head start. The University of Idaho Extension recommends this method to establish strong plants before transplanting.

These crops do not like their roots disturbed, so careful handling during transplanting is essential. To minimize stress, peat pots or other biodegradable containers are recommended.

Seed Starting Steps:

✔ Containers: Peat pots or biodegradable pots reduce root disturbance during transplanting. If plastic containers are used, seedlings should be handled gently.
✔ Soil: A light, well-draining seed-starting mix promotes healthy root development.
✔ Temperature: Soil should be kept at 75–85°F for optimal germination. A heat mat can help maintain consistent warmth.
✔ Lighting: Grow lights should be positioned 2–3 inches above seedlings for strong, compact growth.
✔ Watering: Soil should remain moist but not soggy to prevent disease.

Seeds should be planted 1 inch deep, with 1–2 seeds per pot. Once seedlings emerge, thinning to one strong plant per pot will ensure healthy growth.

Preparing the Garden Bed

While seeds germinate indoors, garden beds should be prepared for transplanting in mid-to-late May. The University of Idaho’s vegetable gardening guide highlights the importance of well-drained, nutrient-rich soil and full sun exposure for these crops. 

Soil Preparation Steps:

✔ Remove weeds to prevent competition.
✔ Loosen soil and incorporate compost for improved fertility.
✔ Rake soil smooth and ensure good drainage.

Since squash, melons, and pumpkins are heavy feeders, preparing the soil early allows nutrients to integrate before transplanting.

Mulching Plan: A Natural Approach

Mulch helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature while protecting delicate roots from disturbance. Consider using one or a combination of the following:

• Compost (1–2 inches): Feeds soil and improves structure.
• Shredded leaves or dried grass clippings (2 inches): Insulates and holds moisture.
• Straw or hay (3 inches): Prevents rot by keeping fruit off the soil.

Choose the best option for your garden, or layer multiple types for added benefits.

Looking Ahead: Preparing for Transplanting

Since squash, melons, and pumpkins do not like their roots disturbed, extra care must be taken when transplanting. When moving plants outdoors, the entire peat pot should be planted directly into the soil to avoid disrupting the roots. If plastic trays were used, seedlings should be gently removed and transplanted with as much of their root system intact as possible.

A week before transplanting, seedlings should be hardened off by gradually introducing them to outdoor conditions, starting with a few hours each day in a sheltered location.

With seeds started indoors and garden beds prepared, everything will be in place for a successful growing season. Careful transplanting will ensure these plants establish quickly, leading to a productive harvest of squash, melons, and pumpkins by late summer.

Three Bumble Bees of Idaho

Bees are vital to Idaho's ecosystems and agricultural economy, serving as key pollinators for crops, wild plants, and native vegetation. The Treasure Valley, with its fertile soils and ideal climate, is home to both wild and managed bee populations that play an essential role in maintaining biodiversity and ensuring agricultural productivity. From honeybees to native species, these pollinators are crucial for supporting crops such as fruits, vegetables, and seeds, making them indispensable, to the region's farmers and gardeners. Protecting and encouraging healthy bee populations is vital not only for Idaho’s agricultural success but also for preserving its diverse natural habitats.

Idaho's landscapes host a variety of bee species. Three of the over twenty species of bumble bees that have been observed in various regions of Idaho on a myriad of plants are summarized below.

Red-Belted Bumble Bee
(Bombus rufocinctus)
This beauty thrives in higher elevations, such as the Northern Rockies and Idaho Batholith, foraging on plants like lupines, sweet clover, and knapweed. It is a significant pollinator in meadows, forests, and shrublands.
 

Hunt’s Bumble Bee 
(Bombus huntii)

The Hunt’s Bumble Bee is highly adaptable, thriving in diverse habitats such as riparian zones and shrublands, often visiting flowers like teasel and lupine.
 

Morrison Bumble Bee 
(Bombus morrisoni)

This Bumble Bee is found in grasslands, sagebrush steppes, and even urban parks, where it pollinates a wide range of flowering plants including milkweed, thistle and bee balm. The Morrison Bumble Bee population has been in decline in recent years and the monitoring of it is of particular interest. 

Supporting Idaho’s bee populations requires community action. Planting native flowers, creating pollinator gardens, reducing pesticide use, and preserving wild habitats are essential steps to help bees thrive. Small efforts, like planting diverse flowers in urban areas or leaving natural spaces untouched, can significantly impact the survival of these pollinators. By fostering environments that support healthy bee populations, we not only contribute to agricultural productivity but also sustain the natural beauty and biodiversity of Idaho. For more information on creating pollinator-friendly spaces, visit Creating Bee Habitat in Idaho or Planting a Bee Garden. Together, we can ensure that Idaho’s bees—and the ecosystems they support—thrive for generations to come.

I want a fruit...& maybe a nut tree - Now What?

 Selecting fruit trees to grow in your yard or orchard depends on several factors:  available space, height and width restrictions, soil type, exposure to good light and air circulation, preferred type of fruit, type of root-stock, and much more. 

The first step is to plan. 

·         The following factors should be considered as you plan: 

• Climate zone
• Soil type and pH
• Location and surrounding landscaping
• 
  Drainage
• Overhead restrictions (power lines, other trees, shading)
• Width restrictions (fences, buildings property lines)
• Underground restrictions (sewer/power/telephone lines, septic tanks or drain fields, layers of poor soil, wells)
• Irrigation and fertilizing
• Time needed for tree care
• Pruning
• Harvesting
• Spraying

Selection of the trees is one of the most important steps. 

There are several great resources to help you select a tree for your yard.

The Pacific Northwest Handbooks publication EC 819, Growing Tree Fruits and Nuts in the Home Orchard  The Treasure Valley is Area II in this publication.

Other factors to consider are: 

•          Choose a reliable nursery with appropriate stock selected for this area
•          Choice of fruit
•          Varieties of chosen fruit that grow best in this region 
•          Dwarf or semi-dwarf root stock
•          Bare root, ball and burlap (B&B), or containerized stock
•         Need of a pollinator or self-pollinator,
•          Blooming and harvest times
•          Pests – insects, birds, or disease resistant

To maintain a strong tree or orchard, time must be given towards tree health.   There are numerous publications from Extension Services through the University of Idaho, Washington State University, and Oregon State University to assist you with your specific trees.

https://youtu.be/_YqQPtsC-eA

The following are important items to consider toward maintaining a vigorous home fruit tree:

•          Training of tree branches
•         Thinning and pruning
•          Irrigation needs
•          Fertilization needs
•          Insect and disease control
•          Weed 
•          Rodent control

A backyard fruit tree or orchard is a wonderful addition to your landscaping.  Be sure to choose trees that are compatible to your region, soil, and property.  With the proper selection, you can enjoy fruit from your backyard trees for many years to come.