When to plant in Alaska
Most of Alaska sees its last spring frost between Apr 29 and Jun 1, and its first fall frost between Sep 1 and Oct 18. The middle of the state is around May 17 and September 23: that's what the dates below use.
Hardiness zones in Alaska: 1b (4%), 2a (10%), 2b (6%), 3a (7%), 3b (10%), 4a (11%), 4b (10%), 5a (12%), 5b (5%), 6b (3%), 7a (8%), 7b (6%), 8a (3%).
Planting dates for common crops
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest | Plant for fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 12 | May 31 – Jun 14 | Aug 9 – Sep 23 | — |
| Pepper | Mar 29 | May 31 – Jun 14 | Aug 14 – Sep 23 | — |
| Cucumber | — | May 31 – Jun 14 | Jul 25 – Sep 12 | — |
| Zucchini / Summer squash | — | May 31 – Jun 14 | Jul 20 – Sep 23 | — |
| Winter squash | — | May 31 – Jun 14 | Sep 3 – Sep 23 | — |
| Green beans (bush) | — | May 31 – Jun 14 | Jul 25 – Sep 5 | — |
| Peas | — | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | Jun 4 – Jul 9 | Jul 4 – Jul 18 |
| Sweet corn | — | May 31 – Jun 14 | Aug 14 – Sep 11 | — |
| Lettuce | — | Apr 19 – May 3 | Jun 3 – Jul 15 | Jul 26 – Aug 9 |
| Spinach | — | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | May 15 – Jun 26 | Aug 14 – Aug 28 |
| Kale | Mar 8 | Apr 19 – May 3 | Jun 13 – Sep 5 | Aug 13 – Aug 27 |
| Broccoli | Mar 15 | Apr 26 – May 10 | Jun 25 – Jul 30 | Jul 18 – Aug 1 |
| Cabbage | Mar 8 | Apr 19 – May 3 | Jun 28 – Aug 2 | Jul 15 – Jul 29 |
| Carrot | — | Apr 26 – May 10 | Jul 5 – Aug 16 | Jul 15 – Jul 29 |
| Beet | — | Apr 26 – May 10 | Jun 20 – Aug 1 | Jul 23 – Aug 6 |
| Radish | — | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | May 7 – Jun 4 | Aug 15 – Aug 29 |
| Onion (sets) | — | Apr 12 – Apr 26 | Jul 21 – Aug 25 | — |
| Garlic | — | Sep 16 – Oct 7 (fall) | Jul 12 – Aug 2 next year | — |
| Potato | — | Apr 26 – May 10 | Jul 25 – Aug 29 | — |
| Sweet potato Tight season: harvest may be cut short by frost. Choose an early variety. | Apr 26 | Jun 7 – Jun 21 | Sep 15 – Sep 23 | — |
| Watermelon | — | Jun 7 – Jun 21 | Aug 31 – Sep 23 | — |
| Basil | Apr 19 | May 31 – Jun 14 | Jun 30 – Sep 23 | — |
| Strawberry (June-bearing) | — | Apr 26 – May 10 | Jun 14 – Jul 12 (once established) | — |
| Sunflower | — | May 31 – Jun 14 | Aug 19 – Sep 23 | — |
Dates for a typical spot in Alaska. Colder and higher places plant later, warmer ones earlier: enter your ZIP code for yours, or see the calendar for your zone.
Frost dates around Alaska
| Place | Zone | Last frost | First frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | 5a | May 12 | Sep 26 |
| Fairbanks | 3b | May 16 | Sep 8 |
| Juneau | 7a | May 4 | Oct 4 |
| Kodiak | 7b | May 5 | Oct 3 |
| Wasilla | 5a | May 16 | Sep 29 |
| Adak | 8b | — | — |
| Akiachak | 3b | May 21 | Sep 22 |
| Akiak | 3b | May 21 | Sep 22 |
| Akutan | 8a | May 6 | Oct 18 |
| Alakanuk | 4a | — | — |
Average dates from the nearest NOAA weather stations (1991–2020). Click a place for its full planting calendar.