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

Planting zone for Fairbanks, AK

Fairbanks, AK is in USDA zones 2a to 3b across its 10 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 28 and the first fall frost August 26.

Fairbanks on the zone map

Outlined: its 7 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–3b−50 to −30 °F
ZIP codes10
Last frostMay 28
First frostAug 26
Growing season87 days

2a 2 ZIPs   2b 2 ZIPs   3a 1 ZIP   3b 5 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Fairbanks, 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 Fairbanks, AK

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 28median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 19only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostAugust 26median — 10% chance by Aug 9
Growing season87 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 14 and returns around September 6.

From the NOAA station Mile 42 Steese, AK, elevation 961 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 Fairbanks

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 16 – May 7
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 7 – May 21
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 7 – May 21
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 30 – May 14
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 4 – Jun 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 11 – Jun 25
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 4 – Jun 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 4 – Jun 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 4 – Jun 18
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 1 – Jul 15
GarlicPlant cloves · Aug 12 – Sep 16
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 28) and first fall frost (Aug 26) 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 Fairbanks, AK.

Soil in Fairbanks, AK

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 99708 is Gilmore — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter90%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Gilmore silt loam, 20 to 30 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 99708; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Fairbanks, AK

Summer high71 °Faverage high, July
Winter low−6 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights219nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days934base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day22 h 14 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day3 h 29 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation13.9 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall62 inper year; 196 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

−20°−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°32 °FJanuary: average high 7 °F, low -6 °F 7°−6° JanFebruary: average high 16 °F, low 0 °F 16°0° FebMarch: average high 25 °F, low 5 °F 25°5° MarApril: average high 44 °F, low 23 °F 44°23° AprMay: average high 60 °F, low 38 °F 60°38° MayJune: average high 70 °F, low 49 °F 70°49° JunJuly: average high 71 °F, low 52 °F 71°52° JulAugust: average high 65 °F, low 46 °F 65°46° AugSeptember: average high 54 °F, low 37 °F 54°37° SepOctober: average high 34 °F, low 21 °F 34°21° OctNovember: average high 16 °F, low 4 °F 16°4° NovDecember: average high 10 °F, low -2 °F 10°−2° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.66 in precipitation, 11.9 in snowfall 0.7❄12 JanFebruary: 0.56 in precipitation, 5.2 in snowfall 0.6❄5 FebMarch: 0.41 in precipitation, 6 in snowfall 0.4❄6 MarApril: 0.32 in precipitation, 2.8 in snowfall 0.3❄3 AprMay: 0.74 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 0.7❄1 MayJune: 1.92 in precipitation 1.9 JunJuly: 3.01 in precipitation 3.0 JulAugust: 2.31 in precipitation 2.3 AugSeptember: 1.69 in precipitation, 2.6 in snowfall 1.7❄3 SepOctober: 0.80 in precipitation, 11.6 in snowfall 0.8❄12 OctNovember: 0.83 in precipitation, 9.9 in snowfall 0.8❄10 NovDecember: 0.69 in precipitation, 10.4 in snowfall 0.7❄10 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: College 5 Nw, AK (2 mi away); precipitation: College 5 Nw, AK (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Fairbanks

997013a
−40 to −35 °F
997063b
−35 to −30 °F
997073b
−35 to −30 °F
997082a
−50 to −45 °F
997093b
−35 to −30 °F
997102b
−45 to −40 °F
997112a
−50 to −45 °F
997123b
−35 to −30 °F
997752b
−45 to −40 °F
997903b
−35 to −30 °F

Alaska planting zones →

Questions about Fairbanks

What planting zone is Fairbanks, AK?

Fairbanks, AK is in USDA hardiness zones 2a to 3b on the 2023 map (2a: −50 to −45 °F; 2b: −45 to −40 °F; 3a: −40 to −35 °F; 3b: −35 to −30 °F).

When is the last frost in Fairbanks, AK?

The median last spring frost is May 28 and the median first fall frost is August 26 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mile 42 Steese station).

When can I plant a garden in Fairbanks, AK?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Apr 16 – May 7; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Jun 4, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Fairbanks, AK?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 22 h 14 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Fairbanks, AK get?

About 13.9 inches of precipitation a year and 62 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).