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

Planting zone for 99556 — Anchor Point, AK

ZIP code 99556 (Anchor Point, Kenai Peninsula County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 16 and the first fall frost September 30.

Where ZIP 99556 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostMay 16
First frostSep 30
2012 zone5b

Was 5b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Anchor Point, 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 Anchor Point, 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 30only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 30median — 10% chance by Sep 16
Growing season136 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 29 and returns around October 11.

From the NOAA station Homer 8 Nw, AK — 7 miles away, elevation 1,079 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 99556

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 · Aug 5 – Aug 19
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 16 – Oct 21
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 16) and first fall frost (Sep 30) 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 6a in Alaska

285 plants native to Alaska, recorded in Alaska, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 16

Alaska cedar75 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −22 °Fbalsam 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 °Fmountain hemlock125 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −18 °FPacific silver fir165 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −28 °F

Shrubs 49

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 123

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 88

Alaska brome5 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −18 °FAlaska 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 °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 Anchor Point, AK.

Soil in Anchor Point, AK

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 99556 is Redoubt — mucky peat, well drained.

TextureMucky peattop layer
pH4.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter82.5%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Redoubt silt loam, 4 to 15 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 99556; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Anchor Point, AK

Summer high61 °Faverage high, July
Winter low18 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights189nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days312base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day18 h 48 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day5 h 55 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation29.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall101 inper year; 167 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°32 °FJanuary: average high 28 °F, low 18 °F 28°18° JanFebruary: average high 31 °F, low 20 °F 31°20° FebMarch: average high 33 °F, low 21 °F 33°21° MarApril: average high 42 °F, low 29 °F 42°29° AprMay: average high 51 °F, low 36 °F 51°36° MayJune: average high 57 °F, low 42 °F 57°42° JunJuly: average high 61 °F, low 47 °F 61°47° JulAugust: average high 60 °F, low 46 °F 60°46° AugSeptember: average high 53 °F, low 41 °F 53°41° SepOctober: average high 42 °F, low 32 °F 42°32° OctNovember: average high 33 °F, low 23 °F 33°23° NovDecember: average high 29 °F, low 20 °F 29°20° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.08 in precipitation, 17.6 in snowfall 2.1❄18 JanFebruary: 1.88 in precipitation, 17.2 in snowfall 1.9❄17 FebMarch: 1.24 in precipitation, 13.3 in snowfall 1.2❄13 MarApril: 1.41 in precipitation, 6.5 in snowfall 1.4❄7 AprMay: 1.24 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 1.2❄1 MayJune: 1.57 in precipitation 1.6 JunJuly: 2.33 in precipitation 2.3 JulAugust: 3.26 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 4.56 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 4.6❄1 SepOctober: 3.63 in precipitation, 4.7 in snowfall 3.6❄5 OctNovember: 3.19 in precipitation, 13.7 in snowfall 3.2❄14 NovDecember: 3.34 in precipitation, 26.4 in snowfall 3.3❄26 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Homer 8 Nw, AK (7 mi away); precipitation: Homer 8 Nw, AK (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

7 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

996395b
Ninilchik, AK · 11 mi
996036a
Homer, AK · 25 mi
996636b
Seldovia, AK · 30 mi
996104b
Kasilof, AK · 33 mi
996694b
Soldotna, AK · 41 mi
995685a
Clam Gulch, AK · 45 mi
996724b
Sterling, AK · 58 mi
996115a
Kenai, AK · 75 mi

Alaska planting zones →

Questions about 99556

What planting zone is ZIP code 99556?

ZIP code 99556 (Anchor Point, AK) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Anchor Point, AK?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 99556 is May 16; after May 30 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Homer 8 Nw station.

When is the first frost in Anchor Point, AK?

The median first fall frost near 99556 is September 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 136 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 99556?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 21 – Apr 4 and set transplants outside around May 23 – Jun 6, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 99556 get?

About 29.7 inches of precipitation a year and 101 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Homer 8 Nw station).

How hot do summers get in Anchor Point, AK?

The average high peaks at 61 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 99556 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Redoubt at the center of ZIP 99556: mucky peat, well drained, pH about 4.3 (strongly acidic).

What kind of onions grow in Anchor Point, AK?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 99556 is 18 h 48 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 99556 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 99556 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.