Idaho
Succession planting in eastern Idaho gardens – East Idaho News
Now is the perfect time to plan for your spring garden. During the winter months, gardeners can reflect on last year’s successes and challenges, research new crops, and design a planting schedule. By preparing early, you can optimize your planting strategy and make this spring your most productive gardening season yet.
One method to consider is succession planting, where crops are planted at intervals throughout the growing season, rather than all at once. This approach helps extend the harvest and maximize the use of garden space. For Eastern Idaho gardeners, succession planting is especially valuable, as it can stretch harvests from early spring to late fall.
In Eastern Idaho, the growing season is often short and unpredictable. By understanding timing, selecting the right crops, and planting in stages, gardeners can enjoy a more abundant harvest despite varying weather conditions.
The variety of plants in this planter box demonstrates the concept of succession planting, where crops are planted in stages to ensure a continuous harvest throughout the growing season. As one crop matures and is harvested, another can take its place, making the most of the available space and extending the garden’s productivity.
Benefits of Succession Planting
Succession planting offers several advantages, particularly in a climate like Eastern Idaho’s. One primary benefit is increased yield. By planting crops at intervals, your garden produces steadily over time instead of all at once, ensuring a continuous harvest. This approach also helps prevent the glut of crops often seen when planting everything simultaneously.
Another benefit is extending your harvest season. Succession planting allows you to plant crops suited for different stages of the year. Cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach, and peas can be planted early in the spring, followed by warm-season crops like tomatoes and beans once the weather warms. Later in the season, you can plant quick-maturing vegetables like radishes and turnips, which can be harvested before the first frost. By staggering plantings, you ensure a steady supply of fresh vegetables throughout the growing season.
Additionally, succession planting allows efficient use of garden space. As one crop is harvested, it can be replaced with another, ensuring no space is left idle for long. This method maximizes the productivity of your garden, making it ideal for gardeners with limited space.
Planning and Timing
Effective succession planting requires careful planning and timing. The key is designing your garden to accommodate multiple plantings throughout the season while understanding each crop’s needs.
When planning your garden, map out planting areas to maximize available space. For example, cool-season crops like lettuce and spinach thrive in cooler temperatures, while warm-season crops like tomatoes and beans need full sun and warmth. You should rotate crops and track when and where you plant them to optimize space and keep your garden productive.
Timing is crucial for succession planting. Cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach, peas, and radishes thrive in cool conditions and can be planted early in the spring, often before the last frost. These crops mature quickly, in 30-60 days, making them ideal for early-season planting. After harvesting them, you can plant warm-season crops or another round of cool-season crops.
Warm-season crops like beans, tomatoes, peppers, and squash require warmer temperatures and should be planted after the threat of frost has passed, typically in late spring. These crops take longer to mature, often 60-90 days, so careful planning is needed to ensure they have enough time to mature before the first frost.
Quick-growing crops like radishes, turnips, and greens mature in 30-40 days and are perfect for filling gaps between slower-growing crops. These fast growers can be planted after harvesting early crops, ensuring a continuous harvest.
Crop Selection for Succession Planting
Choosing the right crops is key for success in succession planting, especially in Eastern Idaho’s variable climate. Below are some ideal crops for succession planting:
Cool-season crops can tolerate light frosts and thrive in early spring. They’re perfect for planting as soon as the soil is workable.
- Lettuce: Grows quickly and can be harvested in 30-40 days. Ideal for multiple plantings throughout the season.
- Spinach: Hardy and quick-growing, spinach matures in 40-50 days.
- Radishes: Ready in as little as 30 days, making them perfect for succession planting.
- Peas: Plant early in spring and harvest in 60-70 days.
- Kale: Thrives in cooler temperatures and can be harvested multiple times throughout the season.
Warm-season crops need higher temperatures and should be planted after the last frost, typically in late spring.
- Tomatoes: Require full sun and warmth. Harvest in late summer.
- Beans: Quick-growing, typically maturing in 60-70 days. Perfect for planting after early crops.
- Squash: Needs a long growing period. Plant after the last frost.
- Peppers: Require warmth and take 70-90 days to mature.
Quick-growing crops mature in 30-40 days, perfect for filling gaps between other crops.
- Turnips: Ready in 30-60 days, ideal for early or late-season planting.
- Arugula: A fast-growing leafy green, maturing in about 30 days.
- Mustard Greens: Another quick grower that thrives in cool weather.
- Beets: Matures quickly, ideal for filling gaps in the season.
Tips for Crop Selection in Eastern Idaho
When selecting crops for succession planting, consider Eastern Idaho’s growing season and soil conditions. Cool-season crops, such as lettuce and peas, can handle frost, making them ideal for early planting. Warm-season crops like tomatoes, beans, and squash should wait until the soil and air warm up in late spring.
Also, keep soil health in mind. Succession planting often involves planting in the same soil multiple times, so crop rotation is essential. Some crops, such as legumes (peas, beans), help replenish nitrogen in the soil, which benefits subsequent plantings. Adding compost and organic matter will help maintain soil fertility throughout the growing season.
Succession planting is a great way to maximize your harvest, especially in Eastern Idaho, where the growing season can be short. By selecting the right crops, timing your plantings carefully, and using your space efficiently, you can enjoy a continuous supply of fresh produce throughout the growing season. Whether you have a small garden or a larger plot, succession planting can help you make the most of your garden, even in challenging climates.
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PAYETTE — A Payette mom’s bond was revoked Tuesday after she was charged with suffocating her twin children earlier this month and is believed to pose a danger to the life of her newborn child.
The case, which has drawn national headlines, concerns Andrea Renee Shaw, a 23-year-old Payette mother who in May 2025 said her 18-month-old fraternal twins died the same day, after receiving routine childhood vaccinations. In January, Shaw joined as a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit filed by Children’s Health Defense, an anti-vaccine organization founded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., with several other plaintiffs claiming vaccine injury or death.
Kennedy, who now serves as secretary of Health and Human Services, is no longer part of the group after taking on the cabinet position, as was reported by the Associated Press.
In Idaho, the twins’ deaths prompted a 14-month investigation by the Payette County Sheriff’s Department. On June 29, the investigation yielded a grand jury indictment of Shaw on two counts of first-degree murder by suffocation. If convicted, Shaw can be punished by up to life in prison or the death penalty, and the court would have the ability to order the penalties be served consecutively, or back to back.
Tuesday’s arraignment at the Payette County Courthouse was primarily attended by Shaw’s relatives and members of the media. Payette County Judge Kiley Stuchlik, who serves Idaho’s Third Judicial District, presided.
A key consideration for Stuchlik on Tuesday was a request from Joseph Filicetti, the legal counsel for Shaw, to have her bond reduced from $2 million to $100,000. Filicetti said this would allow for Shaw to care for a newborn girl, who, according to court documents, was born by caesarean section on June 25, four days prior to Shaw’s grand jury indictment.
State prosecutors objected to the motion for bond reduction, noting at hand was a potential death penalty case and asserting, unlike her husband, Shaw’s story repeatedly changed during questioning. Prosecuting Attorney Mike Duke said releasing Shaw would ultimately put the newborn’s safety at risk.
“That child is the most at risk. We do not think she should be allowed to be anywhere near any children, let alone her own children,” Duke said.
Stuchlik decided to revoke bond entirely, stating Shaw posed a “risk of safety” to the newborn child that was not known to Stuchlik or prosecutors when the $2 million bond was initially set.
Also for consideration Tuesday was a request to have grand jury transcripts of witness testimony provided to prosecutors and defense counsel to prepare their respective cases.
Idaho
Idaho is home to the nation's first DarkSky Reserve. Now it's home to the nations first DarkSky Certified Resort
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – A controversy is brewing as the City of Idaho Falls reviews its alcohol ordinance.
The goal is to consolidate four existing ordinances for beer, wine and liquor into a single law and ensure compliance with state code.
However, at its meeting last Thursday, the Idaho Falls City Council unanimously voted to remove the proposed ordinance from its agenda, in order to receive and consider additional public comment.
The proposed ordinance would:
1. Require commercial establishments selling, dispensing or permitting consumption of alcohol – including beer, wine or liquor – to have an alcohol license, alcohol catering permit or a charitable event permit.
2. Business events with 20 or less employees consuming alcohol at the business would be allowed.
3. Require alcohol servers to complete training every three years.
4. Individuals who violate the law could be charged with a misdemeanor.
Idaho Falls City Council President Jim Francis said the changes were the culmination of months of collaboration between law enforcement, business owners and city attorneys.
“We wanted to provide a safe environment – the primary point here – for public gatherings,” Francis said. “We recognize that certain antiquated elements of the current code are overly restrictive and needed to be addressed. We wanted to make the code more accessible to the public. We needed to address over-pouring issues. We wanted to reduce penalties where possible for violations, particularly the first offenses, and yet make the code clear enough to be enforceable consistently by law enforcement.”
But City Council Member John Radford said the changes represent an overreach by city government.
“I believe it’s a bad policy. What problem are we solving in the name of trying to solve a non-problem?” Radford said. “We’re becoming big brother around alcohol in your private property. I’m concerned that landlords will be at risk of being charged with a misdemeanor if they knowingly, which I made sure that was in there, because that is what we’ve been talking about, allowed people to drink in our business. We will be outside the norm of Idaho cities. This is a big step, and I don’t think the public has weighed in on this.”
At a City Council Work Session on June 1, Idaho Falls Chief of Police Bryce Johnson cited an increase in alcohol-related crime – particularly downtown – as a reason for the changes.
“DUI is there, but this would include sexual assaults, assaults, batteries, disturbances, urination, public vandalism, shooting – all sorts of crimes,” Johnson said.
But business owners are concerned about the potential impact on commercial enterprises.
“The ordinance doesn’t address the real problem – which is people drinking … at one event and then showing up in a bar or restaurant already hammered and causing problems anyway,” ” said Terri Ireland, representing the Idaho Falls Downtown Merchants Association. “The industry is really well-regulated by state and local laws already.”
The City of Idaho Falls began the process of updating its alcohol ordinance in January 2026, seeking input from community stakeholders.
Multiple community members spoke out about the ordinance.
For more in-depth information, you can read the full 39-page proposed alcohol ordinance here.
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