Frost Dates for Fairbanks, AK 99790
Fairbanks has 4 ZIP codes. The Fairbanks, AK frost page lists all of them with their dates.
Last spring frost May 25 · First fall frost August 30 · 97 frost-free days · USDA Zone 3b
Short season: 97 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans May 12–June 7 (26 days). Fall frost risk spans August 20–September 13 (24 days).
Frost probability for 99790
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | June 7 | May 25 | May 12 |
| Fall (first frost) | August 20 | August 30 | September 13 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at COLLEGE OBSY (64.9 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 97-day season in Fairbanks
In Fairbanks (97 frost-free days, a short season), 29 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 14 get two plantings, 5 need an indoor start, 7 don't reliably mature, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 20 | Jun 8–Jun 15 | 55 | no-fit: Needs 80 days; Fairbanks has 55 after Jun 8. | — |
| Pepper | Apr 13 | Jun 8–Jun 15 | 55 | head-start: Even planted out Jun 8, the outdoor season is about 20 days short; choose an early variety or grow under cover. | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 30 | Apr 27–May 4 | 132 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 27 and again by Jul 9; both mature before Sep 6. | Jul 9 |
| Carrots | — | May 4–May 11 | 139 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 139 available after May 4. | Jun 28 |
| Cucumber | May 4 | Jun 8–Jun 15 | 69 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 69 available after Jun 8. | — |
| Beans | — | Jun 1–Jun 15 | 83 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 83 available after Jun 1. | Jun 10 |
| Peas | — | Mar 30–Jun 8 | 160 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 160 available after Mar 30. | Jun 19 |
| Zucchini | May 11 | Jun 8–Jun 15 | 69 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 69 available after Jun 8. | — |
| Onion | Mar 2 | Apr 27–May 11 | 132 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 132 available after Apr 27. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 30–May 18 | 174 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 30 and again by Jul 28; both mature before Sep 20. | Jul 28 |
| Kale | Mar 16 | Apr 27–May 11 | 146 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 27 and again by Jul 13; both mature before Sep 20. | Jul 13 |
| Broccoli | Mar 30 | Apr 27–May 11 | 132 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 132 available after Apr 27. | Jun 4 |
| Cabbage | Mar 30 | Apr 27–May 11 | 146 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 146 available after Apr 27. | Jun 28 |
| Radish | — | Mar 30–Jun 22 | 160 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 30 and again by Jul 29; both mature before Sep 6. | Jul 29 |
| Beets | — | Mar 30–Jun 22 | 160 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 30 and again by Jun 29; both mature before Sep 6. | Jun 29 |
| Potatoes | — | May 11–May 18 | 118 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 118 available after May 11. | — |
| Garlic | — | Aug 30 | 202 | overwinter: Plant Aug 30 to Sep 20; harvest the following summer. | Sep 20 |
| Strawberry | — | Apr 20–Jun 15 | 153 | perennial: A perennial: plant Apr 20; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 27 | Jun 1–Jun 8 | 69 | head-start: Even planted out Jun 1, the outdoor season is about 6 days short; choose an early variety or grow under cover. | — |
| Pumpkin | May 11 | Jun 8–Jun 8 | 62 | no-fit: Needs 100 days; Fairbanks has 62 after Jun 8. | — |
| Cauliflower | Apr 13 | May 18–Jun 1 | 111 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 111 available after May 18. | Jun 9 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 30 | May 11–May 11 | 118 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 118 available after May 11. | Jun 29 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 30–Jun 22 | 174 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 30 and again by Jul 28; both mature before Sep 20. | Jul 28 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 30 | Apr 27–May 11 | 146 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 146 available after Apr 27. | May 29 |
| Butternut Squash | May 11 | Jun 8–Jun 15 | 62 | no-fit: Needs 100 days; Fairbanks has 62 after Jun 8. | — |
| Eggplant | Apr 6 | Jun 8–Jun 15 | 55 | head-start: Even planted out Jun 8, the outdoor season is about 15 days short; choose an early variety or grow under cover. | — |
| Okra | Apr 27 | Jun 1–Jun 8 | 76 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 76 available after Jun 1. | Jun 8 |
| Basil | Apr 20 | Jun 15–Jun 15 | 62 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 62 available after Jun 15. | — |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 27–May 18 | 132 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 27 and again by Jul 4; both mature before Sep 6. | Jul 4 |
| Parsley | Mar 16 | Jun 1–Jun 8 | 97 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 97 available after Jun 1. | Jun 14 |
| Celery | Mar 16 | Jun 1–Jun 15 | 97 | no-fit: Needs 120 days; Fairbanks has 97 after Jun 1. | — |
| Scallions | Mar 16 | Apr 27–May 11 | 146 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 27 and again by Jul 8; both mature before Sep 20. | Jul 8 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 27–May 11 | 146 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 27 and again by Jul 18; both mature before Sep 20. | Jul 18 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Apr 13–Apr 27 | 160 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 13 and again by Jul 13; both mature before Sep 20. | Jul 13 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 27 | May 18–May 25 | 111 | two-plantings: Plant May 18 and again by Jul 9; both mature before Sep 6. | Jul 9 |
| Collards | Mar 16 | Apr 27–May 11 | 146 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 27 and again by Jul 8; both mature before Sep 20. | Jul 8 |
| Cantaloupe | May 11 | Jun 8–Jun 15 | 55 | no-fit: Needs 85 days; Fairbanks has 55 after Jun 8. | — |
| Chives | Mar 2 | Jun 1–Jun 8 | 111 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 111 available after Jun 1. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 30–Jun 22 | 160 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 30 and again by Jun 29; both mature before Sep 6. | Jun 29 |
| Oregano | Mar 16 | Jun 1–Jun 8 | 111 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 111 available after Jun 1. | — |
| Rosemary | Mar 2 | Jun 1–Jun 8 | 97 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 97 available after Jun 1. | — |
| Sage | Mar 30 | Jun 1–Jun 8 | 111 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 111 available after Jun 1. | — |
| Thyme | Mar 16 | Jun 1–Jun 8 | 111 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 111 available after Jun 1. | — |
| Calendula | Apr 13 | May 11–May 25 | 118 | two-plantings: Plant May 11 and again by Jul 4; both mature before Sep 6. | Jul 4 |
| Cosmos | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 8 | 83 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 83 available after May 25. | Jun 3 |
| Lavender | Mar 2 | May 25–Jun 8 | 118 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 118 available after May 25. | — |
| Marigolds | Apr 13 | May 25–Jun 1 | 83 | fits: 50 days to maturity, 83 available after May 25. | Jun 13 |
| Melons | May 11 | Jun 8–Jun 15 | 55 | no-fit: Needs 85 days; Fairbanks has 55 after Jun 8. | — |
| Mint | — | May 25–Jun 8 | 118 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 118 available after May 25. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 1 | 83 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 83 available after May 25. | Jun 8 |
| Pole Beans | — | Jun 1–Jun 15 | 76 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 76 available after Jun 1. | — |
| Spaghetti Squash | May 11 | Jun 8–Jun 15 | 62 | no-fit: Needs 90 days; Fairbanks has 62 after Jun 8. | — |
| Sunflowers | — | May 25–Jun 8 | 83 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 83 available after May 25. | — |
| Tomatillos | Mar 30 | Jun 1–Jun 8 | 62 | head-start: Even planted out Jun 1, the outdoor season is about 13 days short; choose an early variety or grow under cover. | — |
| Watermelon | May 11 | Jun 1–Jun 8 | 62 | head-start: Even planted out Jun 1, the outdoor season is about 18 days short; choose an early variety or grow under cover. | — |
| Yellow Squash | May 11 | Jun 8–Jun 15 | 69 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 69 available after Jun 8. | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 27 | May 25–Jun 8 | 83 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 83 available after May 25. | Jun 3 |
Month by month in Fairbanks
| 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 2), Lavender (Mar 2), Onion (Mar 2), Rosemary (Mar 2), Celery (Mar 16), Collards (Mar 16), +12 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 30), Beets (Mar 30), Dill (Mar 30), Peas (Mar 30), Radish (Mar 30), Spinach (Mar 30). |
| April | Start indoors: Eggplant (Apr 6), Calendula (Apr 13), Cauliflower (Apr 13), Marigolds (Apr 13), Pepper (Apr 13), Basil (Apr 20), +7 more. Direct sow from: Kohlrabi (Apr 13), Cilantro (Apr 27), Turnip (Apr 27). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 27), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 27), Cabbage (Apr 27), Collards (Apr 27), Kale (Apr 27), Lettuce (Apr 27), +2 more. Plant: Strawberry (Apr 20). |
| May | Start indoors: Cucumber (May 4), Butternut Squash (May 11), Cantaloupe (May 11), Melons (May 11), Pumpkin (May 11), Spaghetti Squash (May 11), +3 more. Direct sow from: Carrots (May 4), Potatoes (May 11), Sunflowers (May 25). Transplant from: Calendula (May 11), Swiss Chard (May 11), Bok Choy (May 18), Cauliflower (May 18), Cosmos (May 25), Lavender (May 25), +4 more. Last frost around May 25. Last sowing dates: Brussel Sprouts (May 29). |
| June | Direct sow from: Beans (Jun 1), Pole Beans (Jun 1). Transplant from: Celery (Jun 1), Chives (Jun 1), Corn (Jun 1), Okra (Jun 1), Oregano (Jun 1), Parsley (Jun 1), +17 more. Last sowing dates: Cosmos (Jun 3), Zinnias (Jun 3), Broccoli (Jun 4), Nasturtiums (Jun 8), Okra (Jun 8), Cauliflower (Jun 9), +9 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Calendula (Jul 4), Cilantro (Jul 4), Collards (Jul 8), Scallions (Jul 8), Bok Choy (Jul 9), Lettuce (Jul 9), +6 more. |
| August | Direct sow from: Garlic (Aug 30). First frost around August 30. |
| September | Last sowing dates: Garlic (Sep 20). |
| October | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
| 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 Fairbanks, AK (ZIP 99790)?
The median last spring frost date for Fairbanks, AK (ZIP code 99790) is around May 25. 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 7.
What is the first fall frost date in Fairbanks, AK?
The median first fall frost date for Fairbanks, AK is around August 30. 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 20 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Fairbanks, AK?
The frost-free growing season in Fairbanks is about 97 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 Fairbanks (97 frost-free days, a short season), 29 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 14 get two plantings, 5 need an indoor start, 7 don't reliably mature, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Fairbanks, AK?
Fairbanks, AK is in USDA hardiness zone 3b (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 Fairbanks, AK?
Start tomatoes indoors Apr 20 and plant out Jun 8 in Fairbanks. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Fairbanks?
Two: plant Apr 27 and again by Jul 9; both mature before Sep 6.
When do I plant garlic in Fairbanks?
Aug 30 to Sep 20; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
Can I grow Celery in Fairbanks?
Not reliably outdoors. Needs 120 days; Fairbanks has 97 after Jun 1.
Which nearby ZIP has a longer season?
Fairbanks (ZIP 99709) has 113 frost-free days, 16 more than Fairbanks (ZIP 99790). See Fairbanks ZIP 99709 frost dates
Nearby and related
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- When to plant in AK
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