Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Anchorage, AK

Anchorage, AK is in USDA zones 2a to 6b across its 25 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 1 and the first fall frost September 29.

Anchorage on the zone map

Outlined: its 14 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zones2a–6b−50 to 0 °F
ZIP codes25
Last frostMay 1
First frostSep 29
Growing season150 days

2a 1 ZIP   3a 1 ZIP   5a 14 ZIPs   5b 8 ZIPs   6b 1 ZIP

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Anchorage, AK…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Anchorage, AK

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 29median — 10% chance by Sep 17
Growing season150 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 19 and returns around October 8.

From the NOAA station Anchorage Merrill Field, AK, elevation 138 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Anchorage

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
TomatoesTransplant · May 8 – May 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 15 – May 29
BeansSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 4 – Aug 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 15 – Oct 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 1) and first fall frost (Sep 29) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

Native plants for zone 2a in Alaska

44 plants native to Alaska, recorded in Alaska, and rated by the USDA to survive −50 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 2a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 8

balsam poplar80 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −79 °Fblack spruce65 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −79 °Flodgepole pine99 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −70 °Fpaper birch70 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −62 °Fquaking aspen65 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −70 °Fsubalpine fir90 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −51 °F

Shrubs 16

alpine bearberry0.5 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −62 °Fhalberd willow3 ft · blooms early summer · to −62 °FLapland rosebay3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −62 °Flingonberry0.5 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °FMacKenzie's willow45 ft · blooms early spring · high shade tolerance · to −50 °Fmarsh Labrador tea0.5 ft · blooms summer · to −62 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 12

alpine sweetvetch2 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °Farctic dock1 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °Farctic lupine2 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −62 °Farctic poppy1.5 ft · blooms summer · low shade tolerance · to −54 °Farctic raspberry1 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °Feightpetal mountain-avens0.3 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −62 °F

Grasses 6

arctic bluegrass2 ft · high shade tolerance · to −62 °FHoppner's sedge1 ft · high shade tolerance · to −52 °Flargeflower speargrass2 ft · high shade tolerance · to −52 °Flivid sedge1 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °FLyngbye's sedge1 ft · high shade tolerance · to −52 °FRamensk's sedge1 ft · high shade tolerance · to −52 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Anchorage, AK.

Soil in Anchorage, AK

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 99530 is Icknuun — mucky peat, very poorly drained.

TextureMucky peattop layer
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter70%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Icknuun peat, 0 to 3 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 99530; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Anchorage, AK

Summer high68 °Faverage high, July
Winter low10 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights178nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days943base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day19 h 26 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day5 h 24 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation15 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°32 °FJanuary: average high 23 °F, low 10 °F 23°10° JanFebruary: average high 27 °F, low 14 °F 27°14° FebMarch: average high 33 °F, low 17 °F 33°17° MarApril: average high 46 °F, low 30 °F 46°30° AprMay: average high 58 °F, low 41 °F 58°41° MayJune: average high 66 °F, low 50 °F 66°50° JunJuly: average high 68 °F, low 54 °F 68°54° JulAugust: average high 65 °F, low 52 °F 65°52° AugSeptember: average high 57 °F, low 43 °F 57°43° SepOctober: average high 42 °F, low 31 °F 42°31° OctNovember: average high 29 °F, low 18 °F 29°18° NovDecember: average high 25 °F, low 13 °F 25°13° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.62 in precipitation 0.6 JanFebruary: 0.62 in precipitation 0.6 FebMarch: 0.56 in precipitation 0.6 MarApril: 0.38 in precipitation 0.4 AprMay: 0.58 in precipitation 0.6 MayJune: 0.93 in precipitation 0.9 JunJuly: 1.78 in precipitation 1.8 JulAugust: 2.81 in precipitation 2.8 AugSeptember: 3.06 in precipitation 3.1 SepOctober: 1.68 in precipitation 1.7 OctNovember: 1.07 in precipitation 1.1 NovDecember: 0.89 in precipitation 0.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Anchorage Lake Hood Airport, AK (within 1 mile); precipitation: Anchorage Lake Hood Airport, AK (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Anchorage

995015a
−20 to −15 °F
995025b
−15 to −10 °F
995033a
−40 to −35 °F
995045a
−20 to −15 °F
995075a
−20 to −15 °F
995085a
−20 to −15 °F
995095a
−20 to −15 °F
995105b
−15 to −10 °F
995115a
−20 to −15 °F
995135b
−15 to −10 °F
995145a
−20 to −15 °F
995155a
−20 to −15 °F
995165b
−15 to −10 °F
995175b
−15 to −10 °F
995185a
−20 to −15 °F
995192a
−50 to −45 °F
995205b
−15 to −10 °F
995215a
−20 to −15 °F
995225a
−20 to −15 °F
995235a
−20 to −15 °F
995245a
−20 to −15 °F
995295b
−15 to −10 °F
995305b
−15 to −10 °F
995995a
−20 to −15 °F
996956b
−5 to 0 °F

Alaska planting zones →

Questions about Anchorage

What planting zone is Anchorage, AK?

Anchorage, AK is in USDA hardiness zones 2a to 6b on the 2023 map (2a: −50 to −45 °F; 3a: −40 to −35 °F; 5a: −20 to −15 °F; 5b: −15 to −10 °F; 6b: −5 to 0 °F).

When is the last frost in Anchorage, AK?

The median last spring frost is May 1 and the median first fall frost is September 29 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Anchorage Merrill Field station).

When can I plant a garden in Anchorage, AK?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 20 – Apr 10; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 8, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Anchorage, AK?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 19 h 26 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Anchorage, AK get?

About 15 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).