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

Planting zone for Wasilla, AK

Wasilla, AK is in USDA zones 4b to 5a across its 4 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 16 and the first fall frost September 23.

Wasilla on the zone map

Outlined: its 2 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.

Zones4b–5a−25 to −15 °F
ZIP codes4
Last frostMay 16
First frostSep 23
Growing season128 days

4b 1 ZIP   5a 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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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 Wasilla, AK

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 16median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 23median — 10% chance by Sep 8
Growing season128 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 1 and returns around October 3.

From the NOAA station Anderson Lake, AK, elevation 459 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 Wasilla

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 25
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
TomatoesTransplant · May 23 – Jun 6
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 30 – Jun 13
BeansSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 29 – Aug 12
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 9 – Oct 14
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 16) and first fall frost (Sep 23) 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 4b in Alaska

260 plants native to Alaska, recorded in Alaska, and rated by the USDA to survive −25 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 4b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 11

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 °FPacific silver fir165 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −28 °Fpaper birch70 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −62 °Fquaking aspen65 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −70 °F

Shrubs 44

alpine bearberry0.5 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −62 °Falpine laurel1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −28 °FBarclay's willow15 ft · high shade tolerance · to −43 °Fblack crowberry1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −43 °Fblack hawthorn15 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −47 °Fbog blueberry2 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 112

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine aster0.3 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °Falpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine mountainsorrel1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °Falpine sweetvetch2 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °FAmerican alpine speedwell1 ft · blooms summer · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °F

Grasses 84

Alaska oniongrass3 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAlpine Meadow-Foxtail0.5 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Falpine timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °Farctic bluegrass2 ft · high shade tolerance · to −62 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked sedge4 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °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 Wasilla, AK.

Soil in Wasilla, AK

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 99687 is Kichatna — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter60%high
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Kichatna silt loam, 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 99687; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Wasilla, AK

Summer high71 °Faverage high, July
Winter low8 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights205nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days847base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day19 h 31 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day5 h 20 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation16.6 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 21 °F, low 8 °F 21°8° JanFebruary: average high 29 °F, low 12 °F 29°12° FebMarch: average high 36 °F, low 15 °F 36°15° MarApril: average high 50 °F, low 28 °F 50°28° AprMay: average high 62 °F, low 36 °F 62°36° MayJune: average high 69 °F, low 44 °F 69°44° JunJuly: average high 71 °F, low 50 °F 71°50° JulAugust: average high 68 °F, low 47 °F 68°47° AugSeptember: average high 58 °F, low 39 °F 58°39° SepOctober: average high 44 °F, low 27 °F 44°27° OctNovember: average high 28 °F, low 15 °F 28°15° NovDecember: average high 24 °F, low 10 °F 24°10° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 1.04 in precipitation 1.0 JanFebruary: 0.92 in precipitation 0.9 FebMarch: 0.73 in precipitation 0.7 MarApril: 0.47 in precipitation 0.5 AprMay: 0.78 in precipitation 0.8 MayJune: 1.45 in precipitation 1.4 JunJuly: 1.78 in precipitation 1.8 JulAugust: 2.80 in precipitation 2.8 AugSeptember: 2.30 in precipitation 2.3 SepOctober: 1.56 in precipitation 1.6 OctNovember: 1.13 in precipitation 1.1 NovDecember: 1.60 in precipitation 1.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Eklutna Wtp, AK (7 mi away); precipitation: Eklutna Wtp, AK (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Wasilla

996234b
−25 to −20 °F
996295a
−20 to −15 °F
996545a
−20 to −15 °F
996875a
−20 to −15 °F

Alaska planting zones →

Questions about Wasilla

What planting zone is Wasilla, AK?

Wasilla, AK is in USDA hardiness zones 4b to 5a on the 2023 map (4b: −25 to −20 °F; 5a: −20 to −15 °F).

When is the last frost in Wasilla, AK?

The median last spring frost is May 16 and the median first fall frost is September 23 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Anderson Lake station).

When can I plant a garden in Wasilla, AK?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Apr 4 – Apr 25; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 23, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Wasilla, AK?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 19 h 31 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Wasilla, AK get?

About 16.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).