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

Planting zone for 99825 — Elfin Cove, AK

ZIP code 99825 (Elfin Cove, Hoonah-Angoon County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost November 1.

Where ZIP 99825 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostApr 26
First frostNov 1
2012 zone7b

Was 7b on the 2012 map — half a zone colder now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Elfin Cove, 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 Elfin Cove, AK

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 8only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 1median — 10% chance by Oct 15
Growing season188 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 30 and returns around November 19.

From the NOAA station Elfin Cove, AK — 7 miles away, elevation 20 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 99825

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 15 – Apr 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
TomatoesTransplant · May 3 – May 17
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 10 – May 24
BeansSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 6 – Sep 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 18 – Nov 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 26) and first fall frost (Nov 1) 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 7a in Alaska

289 plants native to Alaska, recorded in Alaska, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. 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 50

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 125

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 89

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 Elfin Cove, AK.

Soil in Elfin Cove, AK

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 99825 is Tolstoi — moderately decomposed plant material, moderately well drained.

TextureModerately decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH3.8strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter80%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Tolstoi-Mosman complex, broken, 56 to 75 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 99825; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Elfin Cove, AK

Summer high59 °Faverage high, August
Winter low29 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights83nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days385base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day18 h 13 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day6 h 26 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation104 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall110 inper year; 81 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°32 °FJanuary: average high 36 °F, low 29 °F 36°29° JanFebruary: average high 38 °F, low 30 °F 38°30° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 31 °F 40°31° MarApril: average high 46 °F, low 35 °F 46°35° AprMay: average high 52 °F, low 41 °F 52°41° MayJune: average high 56 °F, low 46 °F 56°46° JunJuly: average high 58 °F, low 49 °F 58°49° JulAugust: average high 59 °F, low 50 °F 59°50° AugSeptember: average high 56 °F, low 47 °F 56°47° SepOctober: average high 48 °F, low 40 °F 48°40° OctNovember: average high 40 °F, low 34 °F 40°34° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 31 °F 37°31° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″8″10″12″14″January: 10.53 in precipitation, 30.1 in snowfall 10.5❄30 JanFebruary: 7.99 in precipitation, 19.7 in snowfall 8.0❄20 FebMarch: 7.81 in precipitation, 20.3 in snowfall 7.8❄20 MarApril: 5.80 in precipitation, 2.1 in snowfall 5.8❄2 AprMay: 4.73 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.7 MayJune: 3.59 in precipitation 3.6 JunJuly: 4.94 in precipitation 4.9 JulAugust: 7.87 in precipitation 7.9 AugSeptember: 12.18 in precipitation 12.2 SepOctober: 14.53 in precipitation, 1.5 in snowfall 14.5❄2 OctNovember: 12.26 in precipitation, 15.8 in snowfall 12.3❄16 NovDecember: 11.81 in precipitation, 20.4 in snowfall 11.8❄20 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

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

998327a
Pelican, AK · 11 mi
998267a
Gustavus, AK · 28 mi
998417a
Tenakee Springs, AK · 30 mi
998297a
Hoonah, AK · 36 mi
998507a
Juneau, AK · 40 mi
998275b
Haines, AK · 51 mi
998357b
Sitka, AK · 91 mi
998405a
Skagway, AK · 107 mi

Alaska planting zones →

Questions about 99825

What planting zone is ZIP code 99825?

ZIP code 99825 (Elfin Cove, AK) is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 0 to 5 °F (−17.8 to −15 °C).

When is the last frost in Elfin Cove, AK?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 99825 is April 26; after May 8 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elfin Cove station.

When is the first frost in Elfin Cove, AK?

The median first fall frost near 99825 is November 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 188 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 99825?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 1 – Mar 15 and set transplants outside around May 3 – May 17, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 99825 get?

About 104 inches of precipitation a year and 110 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elfin Cove station).

How hot do summers get in Elfin Cove, AK?

The average high peaks at 59 °F in August, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 99825 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Tolstoi at the center of ZIP 99825: moderately decomposed plant material, moderately well drained, pH about 3.8 (strongly acidic).

What kind of onions grow in Elfin Cove, AK?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 99825 is 18 h 13 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 99825 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 99825 in zone 7b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.