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

Planting zone for 99732 — Chicken, AK

ZIP code 99732 (Chicken, Southeast Fairbanks Census Area County) is in USDA zone 1b: the coldest winter night averages −55 to −50 °F. The median last spring frost is May 29 and the first fall frost August 23.

Where ZIP 99732 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.

Zone1b−55 to −50 °F
Coldest night−48.3 to −45.6 °C
Last frostMay 29
First frostAug 23
2012 zone1a

Was 1a 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 1b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Chicken, 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 Chicken, AK

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 29median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostAugust 23median — 10% chance by Aug 8
Growing season86 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 18 and returns around September 3.

From the NOAA station Eagle, AK — 54 miles away, elevation 850 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 99732

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 8 – May 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · May 1 – May 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 8 – May 22
LettuceSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 5 – Jun 19
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 12 – Jun 26
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 5 – Jun 19
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 5 – Jun 19
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 5 – Jun 19
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jun 28 – Jul 12
GarlicPlant cloves · Aug 9 – Sep 13
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 29) and first fall frost (Aug 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 1b in Alaska

37 plants native to Alaska, recorded in Alaska, and rated by the USDA to survive −55 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 1b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 7

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 °Ftamarack80 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −79 °F

Shrubs 15

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 °Fmarsh Labrador tea0.5 ft · blooms summer · to −62 °Fnetleaf willow0.2 ft · blooms early summer · to −62 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 11

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 raspberry1 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °Feightpetal mountain-avens0.3 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −62 °Fhigh northern buttercup1 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °F

Grasses 2

arctic bluegrass2 ft · high shade tolerance · to −62 °Flivid sedge1 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °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 Chicken, AK.

Soil in Chicken, AK

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 99732 is E31-Boreal forest-silty slopes — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH3.5strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter75%high
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Interior Alaska Highlands-Boreal Upland-Rounded Mountains, Acid.

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 99732; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Chicken, AK

Summer high70 °Faverage high, July
Winter low−29 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights274nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days432base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day21 h 05 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day4 h 09 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation12.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall37 inper year; 200 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

−40°−30°−20°−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°32 °FJanuary: average high -11 °F, low -29 °F −11°−29° JanFebruary: average high 1 °F, low -22 °F 1°−22° FebMarch: average high 20 °F, low -14 °F 20°−14° MarApril: average high 42 °F, low 12 °F 42°12° AprMay: average high 58 °F, low 29 °F 58°29° MayJune: average high 69 °F, low 38 °F 69°38° JunJuly: average high 70 °F, low 42 °F 70°42° JulAugust: average high 64 °F, low 36 °F 64°36° AugSeptember: average high 53 °F, low 26 °F 53°26° SepOctober: average high 31 °F, low 10 °F 31°10° OctNovember: average high 4 °F, low -14 °F 4°−14° NovDecember: average high -7 °F, low -23 °F −7°−23° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 0.36 in precipitation, 5.7 in snowfall 0.4❄6 JanFebruary: 0.25 in precipitation, 2.6 in snowfall 0.3❄3 FebMarch: 0.25 in precipitation, 2.7 in snowfall 0.3❄3 MarApril: 0.30 in precipitation, 2.3 in snowfall 0.3❄2 AprMay: 1.04 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 1.0❄1 MayJune: 2.40 in precipitation 2.4 JunJuly: 2.84 in precipitation 2.8 JulAugust: 2.01 in precipitation 2.0 AugSeptember: 1.10 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 1.1❄1 SepOctober: 0.64 in precipitation, 6.1 in snowfall 0.6❄6 OctNovember: 0.59 in precipitation, 7.9 in snowfall 0.6❄8 NovDecember: 0.49 in precipitation, 7.2 in snowfall 0.5❄7 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

3 of the 4 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

997802a
Tok, AK · 33 mi
997761b
Tanacross, AK · 70 mi
997382b
Eagle, AK · 77 mi
997642a
Northway, AK · 96 mi

Alaska planting zones →

Questions about 99732

What planting zone is ZIP code 99732?

ZIP code 99732 (Chicken, AK) is in USDA hardiness zone 1b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −55 to −50 °F (−48.3 to −45.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Chicken, AK?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 99732 is May 29; after June 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Eagle station.

When is the first frost in Chicken, AK?

The median first fall frost near 99732 is August 23, giving a median frost-free growing season of 86 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 99732?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Apr 3 – Apr 17 and set transplants outside around Jun 5 – Jun 19, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 99732 get?

About 12.3 inches of precipitation a year and 37 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Chicken station).

How hot do summers get in Chicken, AK?

The average high peaks at 70 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 99732 have?

The USDA soil survey maps E31-Boreal forest-silty slopes at the center of ZIP 99732: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 3.5 (strongly acidic).

What kind of onions grow in Chicken, AK?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 99732 is 21 h 05 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 99732 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 99732 in zone 1a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 1b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.