Alaska Vegetable Planting Calendar: What to Plant Now
Month-by-month planting calendar for Alaska. 143 crops with sow windows for a subarctic, short cool summer, long daylight climate.
This is our Alaska vegetable planting calendar for Anchorage and the railbelt. It starts with what vegetables to plant now in Alaska, then goes through the whole year, with planting windows set for a climate that is subarctic, with a short, cool summer and long daylight, across USDA zones 1b to 7b. Further down you will find a sowing chart for popular vegetables, local timing notes, frost dates by ZIP code and a season-by-season guide, all from the same data that runs the Planting Season app. This is a first-pass calendar built from regional extension guidance and under local review, so treat it as a strong first draft.
Monthly Planting Calendar
Alaska's populated areas (Anchorage and the railbelt, USDA 3-5; the state spans 1b-7b) have long, cold winters and a short, cool summer of roughly 100-115 frost-free days, but extremely long midsummer daylight that drives fast growth and famously large cool-season vegetables. Hardy crops (brassicas, roots, greens, peas, potatoes) are sown from May once the soil thaws; frost-tender crops like tomatoes go out in June and usually do best in a tunnel or greenhouse. Garlic is planted in fall under mulch. Last frost is typically mid-to-late May and the first fall frost around mid-September. These windows are a first-pass estimate from UAF Cooperative Extension and are being reviewed locally.
Month-by-month vegetable planting calendar for Alaska
Every vegetable in our Alaska calendar, grouped by the month you can sow or plant it. Each month links to its full page with herbs, fruit and flowers.
| Month | Vegetables to sow or plant | Count |
|---|---|---|
| January | No vegetable sowings this month | 0 |
| February | No vegetable sowings this month | 0 |
| March | No vegetable sowings this month | 0 |
| April | No vegetable sowings this month | 0 |
| May | Arugula, Asparagus, Beet, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cantaloupe, Carrot, Cauliflower, Chicory, Collard Greens, Daikon, Endive & Escarole, Fava Beans, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Green Onion, Hamburg Parsley, Horseradish, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Napa Cabbage, Onion, Parsnip, Peas, Potato, Quinoa, Radicchio, Radish, Rhubarb, Rutabaga, Salsify, Scorzonera, Shallot, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Sunchoke, Swiss Chard, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress, Watermelon | 54 |
| June | Amaranth, Arugula, Asparagus, Beet, Bell Pepper, Bitter Melon, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Bush Beans, Cabbage, Cantaloupe, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Chili Pepper, Collard Greens, Cucumber, Daikon, Edamame, Eggplant, Endive & Escarole, Fava Beans, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Globe Artichoke, Good King Henry, Green Onion, Hamburg Parsley, Horseradish, Hyacinth Bean (Lablab), Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Lima Beans, Malabar Spinach, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Napa Cabbage, New Zealand Spinach, Onion, Parsnip, Peas, Potato, Pumpkin, Quinoa, Radicchio, Radish, Rhubarb, Rutabaga, Salsify, Scarlet Runner Bean, Scorzonera, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Southern Peas, Spinach, Squash, Sunchoke, Sweet Corn, Swiss Chard, Tatsoi, Tomatillo, Tomato, Turnip, Watercress, Watermelon, Yardlong Beans, Zucchini | 76 |
| July | Arugula, Beet, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Chicory, Collard Greens, Daikon, Endive & Escarole, Fava Beans, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Napa Cabbage, Peas, Quinoa, Radicchio, Radish, Rutabaga, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress | 36 |
| August | No vegetable sowings this month | 0 |
| September | Garlic | 1 |
| October | No vegetable sowings this month | 0 |
| November | No vegetable sowings this month | 0 |
| December | No vegetable sowings this month | 0 |
Alaska vegetable sowing chart
36 popular crops, with the months you can sow or plant them in Alaska. Shaded months are open planting windows, and the last column spells them out. Where our data says a crop is set out as transplants, the window is the transplanting window.
| Crop | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Sow or plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jun | ||||||||||||
| Bell Pepper | Jun | ||||||||||||
| Chili Pepper | Jun | ||||||||||||
| Eggplant | Jun | ||||||||||||
| Zucchini | Jun | ||||||||||||
| Squash | Jun | ||||||||||||
| Cucumber | Jun | ||||||||||||
| Pumpkin | Jun | ||||||||||||
| Sweet Corn | Jun | ||||||||||||
| Bush Beans | Jun | ||||||||||||
| Peas | May to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Snow Peas | May to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Okra | Not recommended | ||||||||||||
| Southern Peas | Jun | ||||||||||||
| Lettuce | May to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Spinach | May to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Swiss Chard | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Kale | May to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Collard Greens | May to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Broccoli | May to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Cabbage | May to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Cauliflower | May to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Carrot | May to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Beet | May to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Radish | May to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Turnip | May to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Onion | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Garlic | Sep | ||||||||||||
| Potato | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Sweet Potato | Not recommended | ||||||||||||
| Basil | Jun | ||||||||||||
| Cilantro | May to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Parsley | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Strawberry | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Watermelon | May to Jun | ||||||||||||
| Cantaloupe | May to Jun |
Local timing notes for Alaska
Where timing in Alaska needs explaining, our data carries a local note. These are the same notes the Planting Season app shows for this region, and they explain the shape of the chart above.
- Pumpkin (Jun): Start seeds indoors in the third week of April and plant out in early June through plastic mulch. Choose small, early varieties; big field pumpkins are a gamble.
- Okra (not recommended here): Too cold outdoors in Alaska; only in a heated greenhouse.
- Southern Peas (Jun): A heat lover. Sow in June once the soil is warm; it usually does best in a tunnel or greenhouse.
- Sweet Potato (not recommended here): Summers are too short and cool for sweet potatoes outdoors; only in a heated greenhouse.
- Watermelon (May to Jun): Start indoors in April, then plant out under cover after the last frost in mid May. Choose short season varieties.
- Cantaloupe (May to Jun): Start indoors in April, then plant out under cover after the last frost in mid May. Choose short season varieties.
Browse by Category
Frost dates, climate and USDA zones in Alaska
The climate in Alaska is subarctic, with a short, cool summer and long daylight. Across the region the average last spring frost falls around May 15 and the first fall frost around September 10, which leaves a growing season of about 118 days for frost-tender crops such as tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash and basil. Those are regional midpoints: a frost pocket, a slope or a warm wall can shift your own dates by weeks.
Frost is local, so here is what the ZIP code records show for a few places across Anchorage and the railbelt:
- Anchorage (99501): typical last spring frost May 1; typical first fall frost September 29; a growing season of about 150 days.
- Fairbanks (99701): typical last spring frost May 22; typical first fall frost August 24; a growing season of about 94 days.
- Juneau (99801): typical last spring frost May 3; typical first fall frost October 14; a growing season of about 164 days.
Enter your own ZIP code in the Frost Lookup for your typical last and first frost. ZIP code figures come from the nearest weather station in the NOAA 1991 to 2020 Climate Normals, at the 50 percent probability level, so in one year out of two the last frost comes later.
USDA hardiness zones: our Alaska region spans zones 1b to 7b. Your zone tells you which perennials, shrubs and fruit trees survive a normal winter; it does not tell you when to sow, which is why this calendar follows frost dates and summer heat instead. Zone pages: zone 3a, zone 3b, zone 4a, zone 4b, zone 5a, zone 5b, zone 6a, zone 6b, zone 7a, zone 7b.
Alaska planting seasons: a season-by-season guide
The calendar above, read by season. Counts and crop lists come straight from the Alaska planting windows, so they change only when our data changes.
Spring in Alaska (March to May)
54 vegetables can be sown or planted at some point in spring. Planting windows that open: in May, Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Kale, Collard Greens, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower and 44 more.
Summer in Alaska (June to August)
76 vegetables can be sown or planted at some point in summer. Planting windows that open: in June, Tomato, Bell Pepper, Chili Pepper, Eggplant, Zucchini, Squash, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Sweet Corn, Bush Beans and 13 more. Last chance before the season ends: June for Tomato, Bell Pepper, Chili Pepper, Eggplant, Zucchini, Squash, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Sweet Corn, Bush Beans and 30 more; July for Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Collard Greens, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot and 26 more.
Fall in Alaska (September to November)
1 vegetable can be sown or planted at some point in fall. Planting windows that open: in September, Garlic. Last chance before the season ends: September for Garlic.
Winter in Alaska (December to February)
No vegetables are sown in winter; the ground rests until the next window opens.
Growing Guides
In-depth guides for the most popular crops and techniques. These guides adapt to your region.
Free Monthly Planting Calendar
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Plan your whole garden in the app
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Open the App →Planting calendars for other US regions
Gardening somewhere else? Each region has its own planting windows, frost dates and month pages. For every region side by side, see what vegetables to plant now across the US, or find your region by ZIP code.
- North Florida vegetable planting calendar
North Florida: USDA zones 9a to 9b, frost window February 15 to December 5. - Central Florida vegetable planting calendar
Central Florida: USDA zones 9b to 10b, effectively frost free. - South Florida vegetable planting calendar
South Florida: USDA zones 10a to 11a, effectively frost free. - Gulf South vegetable planting calendar
Gulf South: USDA zones 8a to 9b, frost window February 25 to December 1. - Desert Southwest vegetable planting calendar
Desert Southwest: USDA zones 7a to 10a, frost window February 5 to December 5. - Texas vegetable planting calendar
Texas: USDA zones 8a to 10a, frost window March 1 to November 28. - Southern California vegetable planting calendar
Southern California: USDA zones 9b to 10b, effectively frost free. - Mid-South vegetable planting calendar
Mid-South: USDA zones 7a to 8b, frost window April 10 to October 25. - Pacific Northwest vegetable planting calendar
Pacific Northwest: USDA zones 6b to 9a, frost window March 25 to November 15. - Northeast & New England vegetable planting calendar
Northeast & New England: USDA zones 5a to 7b, frost window May 10 to October 15. - Mid-Atlantic vegetable planting calendar
Mid-Atlantic: USDA zones 6b to 8a, frost window April 15 to October 25. - Midwest & Great Lakes vegetable planting calendar
Midwest & Great Lakes: USDA zones 5a to 7a, frost window April 30 to October 15. - Upper Midwest & Northern Plains vegetable planting calendar
Upper Midwest & Northern Plains: USDA zones 3b to 5a, frost window May 15 to September 25. - Mountain West vegetable planting calendar
Mountain West: USDA zones 5a to 7b, frost window May 5 to September 30. - Southern Plains vegetable planting calendar
Southern Plains: USDA zones 5b to 7b, frost window April 10 to October 30. - Northern California vegetable planting calendar
Northern California & Central Valley: USDA zones 7b to 10a, frost window February 28 to November 17. - Hawaii vegetable planting calendar
Hawaii: USDA zones 11b to 12b, effectively frost free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What grows well in Alaska?
Cool-season crops shine: cabbage, kale, broccoli, lettuce, carrots, beets, peas and potatoes grow fast and large under the long summer daylight. Sow from May; warm crops need a tunnel.
How short is the season?
Roughly 100-115 frost-free days. Start long-season crops indoors and transplant after the mid-to-late May last frost; most sowing is done by July.
How accurate are these dates?
A careful first pass based on UAF Cooperative Extension guidance, under local review.
What vegetables can I plant now in Alaska?
It depends on the month. Going by our Alaska calendar, in spring (Mar to May) you can sow Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Kale and Collard Greens; in summer (Jun to Aug) you can sow Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Collard Greens and Broccoli; in fall (Sep to Nov) you can sow Garlic; in winter (Dec to Feb) there are no vegetable sowings. The What to plant in Alaska now section at the top of this page always shows the current month, and each month page lists every crop.
When is the last frost in Alaska?
Across Alaska the average last spring frost is around May 15 and the first fall frost around September 10, a growing season of about 118 days. ZIP code records for Anchorage (99501) give a typical last spring frost of May 1 and a first fall frost of September 29. Check your own ZIP code with the Frost Lookup.
When should I plant tomatoes in Alaska?
Our Alaska calendar has tomatoes planted in June. More in how to grow tomatoes.
When should I plant garlic in Alaska?
Our Alaska calendar has garlic planted in September. More in how to grow garlic.