Frost Dates for Anchorage, AK 99517
Anchorage has 11 ZIP codes. The Anchorage, AK frost page lists all of them with their dates.
Last spring frost May 30 · First fall frost September 10 · 103 frost-free days · USDA Zone 5b
ZIP 99517 has about 16,500 people, one of 11 ZIP codes in Anchorage.
Short season: 103 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans May 12–June 16 (35 days). Fall frost risk spans August 24–September 28 (35 days).
Frost probability for 99517
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | June 16 | May 30 | May 12 |
| Fall (first frost) | August 24 | September 10 | September 28 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at GLEN ALPS (16.5 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 103-day season in Anchorage
In Anchorage (103 frost-free days, a short season), 29 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 15 get two plantings, 6 need an indoor start, 5 don't reliably mature, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 25 | Jun 13–Jun 20 | 61 | head-start: Even planted out Jun 13, the outdoor season is about 19 days short; choose an early variety or grow under cover. | — |
| Pepper | Apr 18 | Jun 13–Jun 20 | 61 | head-start: Even planted out Jun 13, the outdoor season is about 14 days short; choose an early variety or grow under cover. | — |
| Lettuce | Apr 4 | May 2–May 9 | 138 | two-plantings: Plant May 2 and again by Jul 20; both mature before Sep 17. | Jul 20 |
| Carrots | — | May 9–May 16 | 145 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 145 available after May 9. | Jul 9 |
| Cucumber | May 9 | Jun 13–Jun 20 | 75 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 75 available after Jun 13. | Jun 14 |
| Beans | — | Jun 6–Jun 20 | 89 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 89 available after Jun 6. | Jun 21 |
| Peas | — | Apr 4–Jun 13 | 166 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 166 available after Apr 4. | Jun 30 |
| Zucchini | May 16 | Jun 13–Jun 20 | 75 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 75 available after Jun 13. | Jun 19 |
| Onion | Mar 7 | May 2–May 16 | 138 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 138 available after May 2. | — |
| Spinach | — | Apr 4–May 23 | 180 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 4 and again by Aug 8; both mature before Oct 1. | Aug 8 |
| Kale | Mar 21 | May 2–May 16 | 152 | two-plantings: Plant May 2 and again by Jul 24; both mature before Oct 1. | Jul 24 |
| Broccoli | Apr 4 | May 2–May 16 | 138 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 138 available after May 2. | Jun 15 |
| Cabbage | Apr 4 | May 2–May 16 | 152 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 152 available after May 2. | Jul 9 |
| Radish | — | Apr 4–Jun 27 | 166 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 4 and again by Aug 9; both mature before Sep 17. | Aug 9 |
| Beets | — | Apr 4–Jun 27 | 166 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 4 and again by Jul 10; both mature before Sep 17. | Jul 10 |
| Potatoes | — | May 16–May 23 | 124 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 124 available after May 16. | — |
| Garlic | — | Sep 10 | 208 | overwinter: Plant Sep 10 to Oct 1; harvest the following summer. | Oct 1 |
| Strawberry | — | Apr 25–Jun 20 | 159 | perennial: A perennial: plant Apr 25; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | May 2 | Jun 6–Jun 13 | 75 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 75 available after Jun 6. | — |
| Pumpkin | May 16 | Jun 13–Jun 13 | 68 | no-fit: Needs 100 days; Anchorage has 68 after Jun 13. | — |
| Cauliflower | Apr 18 | May 23–Jun 6 | 117 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 117 available after May 23. | Jun 20 |
| Swiss Chard | Apr 4 | May 16–May 16 | 124 | two-plantings: Plant May 16 and again by Jul 10; both mature before Sep 17. | Jul 10 |
| Arugula | — | Apr 4–Jun 27 | 180 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 4 and again by Aug 8; both mature before Oct 1. | Aug 8 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Apr 4 | May 2–May 16 | 152 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 152 available after May 2. | Jun 9 |
| Butternut Squash | May 16 | Jun 13–Jun 20 | 68 | no-fit: Needs 100 days; Anchorage has 68 after Jun 13. | — |
| Eggplant | Apr 11 | Jun 13–Jun 20 | 61 | head-start: Even planted out Jun 13, the outdoor season is about 9 days short; choose an early variety or grow under cover. | — |
| Okra | May 2 | Jun 6–Jun 13 | 82 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 82 available after Jun 6. | Jun 19 |
| Basil | Apr 25 | Jun 20–Jun 20 | 68 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 68 available after Jun 20. | — |
| Cilantro | — | May 2–May 23 | 138 | two-plantings: Plant May 2 and again by Jul 15; both mature before Sep 17. | Jul 15 |
| Parsley | Mar 21 | Jun 6–Jun 13 | 103 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 103 available after Jun 6. | Jun 25 |
| Celery | Mar 21 | Jun 6–Jun 20 | 103 | head-start: Even planted out Jun 6, the outdoor season is about 17 days short; choose an early variety or grow under cover. | — |
| Scallions | Mar 21 | May 2–May 16 | 152 | two-plantings: Plant May 2 and again by Jul 19; both mature before Oct 1. | Jul 19 |
| Turnip | — | May 2–May 16 | 152 | two-plantings: Plant May 2 and again by Jul 29; both mature before Oct 1. | Jul 29 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Apr 18–May 2 | 166 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 18 and again by Jul 24; both mature before Oct 1. | Jul 24 |
| Bok Choy | May 2 | May 23–May 30 | 117 | two-plantings: Plant May 23 and again by Jul 20; both mature before Sep 17. | Jul 20 |
| Collards | Mar 21 | May 2–May 16 | 152 | two-plantings: Plant May 2 and again by Jul 19; both mature before Oct 1. | Jul 19 |
| Cantaloupe | May 16 | Jun 13–Jun 20 | 61 | no-fit: Needs 85 days; Anchorage has 61 after Jun 13. | — |
| Chives | Mar 7 | Jun 6–Jun 13 | 117 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 117 available after Jun 6. | — |
| Dill | — | Apr 4–Jun 27 | 166 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 4 and again by Jul 10; both mature before Sep 17. | Jul 10 |
| Oregano | Mar 21 | Jun 6–Jun 13 | 117 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 117 available after Jun 6. | — |
| Rosemary | Mar 7 | Jun 6–Jun 13 | 103 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 103 available after Jun 6. | — |
| Sage | Apr 4 | Jun 6–Jun 13 | 117 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 117 available after Jun 6. | — |
| Thyme | Mar 21 | Jun 6–Jun 13 | 117 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 117 available after Jun 6. | — |
| Calendula | Apr 18 | May 16–May 30 | 124 | two-plantings: Plant May 16 and again by Jul 15; both mature before Sep 17. | Jul 15 |
| Cosmos | May 2 | May 30–Jun 13 | 89 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 89 available after May 30. | Jun 14 |
| Lavender | Mar 7 | May 30–Jun 13 | 124 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 124 available after May 30. | — |
| Marigolds | Apr 18 | May 30–Jun 6 | 89 | fits: 50 days to maturity, 89 available after May 30. | Jun 24 |
| Melons | May 16 | Jun 13–Jun 20 | 61 | no-fit: Needs 85 days; Anchorage has 61 after Jun 13. | — |
| Mint | — | May 30–Jun 13 | 124 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 124 available after May 30. | — |
| Nasturtiums | May 2 | May 30–Jun 6 | 89 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 89 available after May 30. | Jun 19 |
| Pole Beans | — | Jun 6–Jun 20 | 82 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 82 available after Jun 6. | Jun 9 |
| Spaghetti Squash | May 16 | Jun 13–Jun 20 | 68 | no-fit: Needs 90 days; Anchorage has 68 after Jun 13. | — |
| Sunflowers | — | May 30–Jun 13 | 89 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 89 available after May 30. | Jun 4 |
| Tomatillos | Apr 4 | Jun 6–Jun 13 | 68 | head-start: Even planted out Jun 6, the outdoor season is about 7 days short; choose an early variety or grow under cover. | — |
| Watermelon | May 16 | Jun 6–Jun 13 | 68 | head-start: Even planted out Jun 6, the outdoor season is about 12 days short; choose an early variety or grow under cover. | — |
| Yellow Squash | May 16 | Jun 13–Jun 20 | 75 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 75 available after Jun 13. | Jun 19 |
| Zinnias | May 2 | May 30–Jun 13 | 89 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 89 available after May 30. | Jun 14 |
Month by month in Anchorage
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start the slowest-growing crops indoors: onions, leeks, and celery (10–12 weeks before last frost). |
| March | Start indoors: Chives (Mar 7), Lavender (Mar 7), Onion (Mar 7), Rosemary (Mar 7), Celery (Mar 21), Collards (Mar 21), +5 more. |
| April | Start indoors: Broccoli (Apr 4), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 4), Cabbage (Apr 4), Lettuce (Apr 4), Sage (Apr 4), Swiss Chard (Apr 4), +8 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Apr 4), Beets (Apr 4), Dill (Apr 4), Peas (Apr 4), Radish (Apr 4), Spinach (Apr 4), +1 more. Plant: Strawberry (Apr 25). |
| May | Start indoors: Bok Choy (May 2), Corn (May 2), Cosmos (May 2), Nasturtiums (May 2), Okra (May 2), Zinnias (May 2), +9 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (May 2), Turnip (May 2), Carrots (May 9), Potatoes (May 16), Sunflowers (May 30). Transplant from: Broccoli (May 2), Brussel Sprouts (May 2), Cabbage (May 2), Collards (May 2), Kale (May 2), Lettuce (May 2), +12 more. Last frost around May 30. |
| June | Direct sow from: Beans (Jun 6), Pole Beans (Jun 6). Transplant from: Celery (Jun 6), Chives (Jun 6), Corn (Jun 6), Okra (Jun 6), Oregano (Jun 6), Parsley (Jun 6), +17 more. Last sowing dates: Sunflowers (Jun 4), Brussel Sprouts (Jun 9), Pole Beans (Jun 9), Cosmos (Jun 14), Cucumber (Jun 14), Zinnias (Jun 14), +10 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Cabbage (Jul 9), Carrots (Jul 9), Beets (Jul 10), Dill (Jul 10), Swiss Chard (Jul 10), Calendula (Jul 15), +8 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Arugula (Aug 8), Spinach (Aug 8), Radish (Aug 9). |
| September | Direct sow from: Garlic (Sep 10). First frost around September 10. |
| October | Last sowing dates: Garlic (Oct 1). |
| November | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
| December | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last frost date for Anchorage, AK (ZIP 99517)?
The median last spring frost date for Anchorage, AK (ZIP code 99517) is around May 30. This is the 50th-percentile date — meaning half of all years see frost end before this date. Use the 10% and 90% dates to understand the full range of risk in your area. One year in ten frost ends before May 12; one in ten it runs past June 16.
What is the first fall frost date in Anchorage, AK?
The median first fall frost date for Anchorage, AK is around September 10. Plan to harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops like tomatoes and peppers at least a week before this date to avoid losses. The first frost arrives around August 24 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Anchorage, AK?
The frost-free growing season in Anchorage is about 103 days. This window — from your last spring frost to your first fall frost — is when warm-season vegetables thrive. Cold-hardy crops like kale, spinach, and peas can extend your season by weeks on either side. In Anchorage (103 frost-free days, a short season), 29 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 15 get two plantings, 6 need an indoor start, 5 don't reliably mature, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Anchorage, AK?
Anchorage, AK is in USDA hardiness zone 5b (2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map). Zones come from the average coldest winter temperature, so they tell you which perennials survive the winter; the frost dates on this page tell you when to plant.
When should I start tomatoes indoors in Anchorage, AK?
Start tomatoes indoors Apr 25 and plant out Jun 13 in Anchorage. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Anchorage?
Two: plant May 2 and again by Jul 20; both mature before Sep 17.
When do I plant garlic in Anchorage?
Sep 10 to Oct 1; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
Can I grow Celery in Anchorage?
Yes, with help. Even planted out Jun 6, the outdoor season is about 17 days short; choose an early variety or grow under cover.
Which nearby ZIP has a longer season?
Eagle River (ZIP 99577) has 117 frost-free days, 14 more than Anchorage (ZIP 99517). See Eagle River ZIP 99577 frost dates
Nearby and related
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- Frost dates for Wasilla, AK 99623 (16.5 mi)
- Frost dates for Eagle River, AK 99577 (21.4 mi)
- When to plant in Anchorage, AK: month-by-month guide
- When to plant in AK
- When to plant Beans in AK
- When to plant Strawberries in AK
- When to plant Beets in AK
- When to plant Broccoli in AK
- When to plant Carrots in AK
- When to plant Kale in AK
- Look up another ZIP