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

Planting zone for 99714 — Salcha, AK

ZIP code 99714 (Salcha, Fairbanks North Star County) is in USDA zone 3b: the coldest winter night averages −35 to −30 °F. The median last spring frost is May 26 and the first fall frost September 2.

Where ZIP 99714 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.

Zone3b−35 to −30 °F
Coldest night−37.2 to −34.4 °C
Last frostMay 26
First frostSep 2
2012 zone2b

Was 2b on the 2012 map — a full zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 3b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Salcha, 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 Salcha, AK

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 2median — 10% chance by Aug 19
Growing season98 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 15 and returns around September 16.

From the NOAA station Whitestone Farms, AK — 25 miles away, elevation 994 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 99714

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 14 – May 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 5 – May 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 5 – May 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 2 – Jun 16
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 9 – Jun 23
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 2 – Jun 16
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 2 – Jun 16
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 2 – Jun 16
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 8 – Jul 22
GarlicPlant cloves · Aug 19 – Sep 23
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 26) and first fall frost (Sep 2) 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 3b in Alaska

172 plants native to Alaska, recorded in Alaska, and rated by the USDA to survive −35 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 3b. 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 32

alpine bearberry0.5 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −62 °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 °Fchokecherry25 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −43 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 64

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °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 speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican vetch1.3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Grasses 61

alpine 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 °Fbearded fescue1.2 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBebb's sedge3 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 Salcha, AK.

Soil in Salcha, AK

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 99714 is Histic Pergelic Cryaquepts — peat, poorly drained.

TexturePeattop layer
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter90%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Histic Pergelic Cryaquepts-Typic Cryochrepts complex, 15 to 45 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 99714; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Salcha, AK

Summer high74 °Faverage high, July
Winter low−11 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights232nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days893base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day21 h 21 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day3 h 59 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation12.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall42 inper year; 179 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 6 °F, low -11 °F 6°−11° JanFebruary: average high 16 °F, low -4 °F 16°−4° FebMarch: average high 27 °F, low 1 °F 27°1° MarApril: average high 48 °F, low 21 °F 48°21° AprMay: average high 63 °F, low 34 °F 63°34° MayJune: average high 73 °F, low 45 °F 73°45° JunJuly: average high 74 °F, low 49 °F 74°49° JulAugust: average high 67 °F, low 44 °F 67°44° AugSeptember: average high 56 °F, low 35 °F 56°35° SepOctober: average high 34 °F, low 18 °F 34°18° OctNovember: average high 15 °F, low -1 °F 15°−1° NovDecember: average high 10 °F, low -8 °F 10°−8° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 0.44 in precipitation, 5.7 in snowfall 0.4❄6 JanFebruary: 0.32 in precipitation, 5 in snowfall 0.3❄5 FebMarch: 0.33 in precipitation, 3.7 in snowfall 0.3❄4 MarApril: 0.24 in precipitation, 1.6 in snowfall 0.2❄2 AprMay: 0.84 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 0.8❄1 MayJune: 2.51 in precipitation 2.5 JunJuly: 2.75 in precipitation 2.8 JulAugust: 2.13 in precipitation 2.1 AugSeptember: 1.16 in precipitation, 1.7 in snowfall 1.2❄2 SepOctober: 0.80 in precipitation, 7.3 in snowfall 0.8❄7 OctNovember: 0.66 in precipitation, 8.7 in snowfall 0.7❄9 NovDecember: 0.51 in precipitation, 6.7 in snowfall 0.5❄7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Whitestone Farms, AK (25 mi away); precipitation: Whitestone Farms, AK (25 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.

997022a
Eielson Afb, AK · 24 mi
997312a
Fort Greely, AK · 30 mi
997052a
North Pole, AK · 35 mi
997162a
Two Rivers, AK · 36 mi
997032a
Fort Wainwright, AK · 45 mi
997102b
Fairbanks, AK · 47 mi
997112a
Fairbanks, AK · 47 mi
997123b
Fairbanks, AK · 50 mi

Alaska planting zones →

Questions about 99714

What planting zone is ZIP code 99714?

ZIP code 99714 (Salcha, AK) is in USDA hardiness zone 3b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −35 to −30 °F (−37.2 to −34.4 °C).

When is the last frost in Salcha, AK?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 99714 is May 26; after June 9 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Whitestone Farms station.

When is the first frost in Salcha, AK?

The median first fall frost near 99714 is September 2, giving a median frost-free growing season of 98 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 99714?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 31 – Apr 14 and set transplants outside around Jun 2 – Jun 16, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 99714 get?

About 12.7 inches of precipitation a year and 42 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Whitestone Farms station).

How hot do summers get in Salcha, AK?

The average high peaks at 74 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 99714 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Histic Pergelic Cryaquepts at the center of ZIP 99714: peat, poorly drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

What kind of onions grow in Salcha, AK?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 99714 is 21 h 21 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 99714 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 99714 in zone 2b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 3b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.