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

Planting zone for 99829 — Hoonah, AK

ZIP code 99829 (Hoonah, Hoonah-Angoon County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 9 and the first fall frost October 4.

Where ZIP 99829 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 frostMay 9
First frostOct 4
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 Hoonah, 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 Hoonah, AK

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJuly 4only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 4median — 10% chance by Sep 1
Growing season145 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 26 and returns around October 19.

From the NOAA station Hoonah, AK — 7 miles away, elevation 131 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 99829

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 18
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
TomatoesTransplant · May 16 – May 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 23 – Jun 6
BeansSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 16 – May 30
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 9 – Aug 23
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 20 – Oct 25
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 9) and first fall frost (Oct 4) 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 Hoonah, AK.

Soil in Hoonah, AK

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 99829 is Kina — peat, very poorly drained.

TexturePeattop layer
pH4.6strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter80%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Kina-Kasiana association, sloping lowlands, 6 to 35 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 99829; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Hoonah, AK

Summer high65 °Faverage high, July
Winter low27 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights130nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days735base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day18 h 11 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day6 h 27 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation65.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall90 inper year; 96 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°32 °FJanuary: average high 34 °F, low 27 °F 34°27° JanFebruary: average high 37 °F, low 27 °F 37°27° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 28 °F 40°28° MarApril: average high 49 °F, low 33 °F 49°33° AprMay: average high 58 °F, low 40 °F 58°40° MayJune: average high 62 °F, low 47 °F 62°47° JunJuly: average high 65 °F, low 51 °F 65°51° JulAugust: average high 64 °F, low 51 °F 64°51° AugSeptember: average high 58 °F, low 45 °F 58°45° SepOctober: average high 48 °F, low 38 °F 48°38° OctNovember: average high 39 °F, low 31 °F 39°31° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 28 °F 36°28° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″2″4″6″8″10″January: 6.75 in precipitation, 25 in snowfall 6.8❄25 JanFebruary: 5.02 in precipitation, 12.3 in snowfall 5.0❄12 FebMarch: 4.43 in precipitation, 20 in snowfall 4.4❄20 MarApril: 3.13 in precipitation, 1.7 in snowfall 3.1❄2 AprMay: 2.51 in precipitation 2.5 MayJune: 2.67 in precipitation 2.7 JunJuly: 3.30 in precipitation 3.3 JulAugust: 4.86 in precipitation 4.9 AugSeptember: 7.26 in precipitation 7.3 SepOctober: 9.19 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 9.2❄1 OctNovember: 8.81 in precipitation, 13.4 in snowfall 8.8❄13 NovDecember: 7.86 in precipitation, 17 in snowfall 7.9❄17 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7a.

998417a
Tenakee Springs, AK · 9 mi
998327a
Pelican, AK · 29 mi
998267a
Gustavus, AK · 32 mi
998507a
Juneau, AK · 33 mi
998257a
Elfin Cove, AK · 36 mi
998217a
Auke Bay, AK · 37 mi
998127a
Juneau, AK · 37 mi
998247a
Douglas, AK · 37 mi

Alaska planting zones →

Questions about 99829

What planting zone is ZIP code 99829?

ZIP code 99829 (Hoonah, 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 Hoonah, AK?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 99829 is May 9; after July 4 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hoonah station.

When is the first frost in Hoonah, AK?

The median first fall frost near 99829 is October 4, giving a median frost-free growing season of 145 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 99829?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 14 – Mar 28 and set transplants outside around May 16 – May 30, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 99829 get?

About 65.8 inches of precipitation a year and 90 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hoonah station).

How hot do summers get in Hoonah, AK?

The average high peaks at 65 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 99829 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Kina at the center of ZIP 99829: peat, very poorly drained, pH about 4.6 (strongly acidic).

What kind of onions grow in Hoonah, AK?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 99829 is 18 h 11 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 99829 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 99829 in zone 7b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.