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

Planting zone for 99830 — Kake, AK

ZIP code 99830 (Kake, Petersburg County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 19 and the first fall frost October 25.

Where ZIP 99830 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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
Coldest night−15 to −12.2 °C
Last frostApr 19
First frostOct 25
2012 zone7b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 7b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Kake, 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 Kake, AK

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 19median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 25median — 10% chance by Oct 5
Growing season187 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 3 and returns around November 8.

From the NOAA station Pt Baker, AK — 34 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 99830

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 29
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 26 – May 10
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 3 – May 17
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 30 – Sep 13
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 11 – Nov 15
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 19) and first fall frost (Oct 25) 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 7b in Alaska

289 plants native to Alaska, recorded in Alaska, and rated by the USDA to survive 5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7b. 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 Kake, AK.

Soil in Kake, AK

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 99830 is Kwatahein — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH4.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter6%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Kwatahein-Mitkof complex, 35 to 60 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 99830; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Kake, AK

Summer high61 °Faverage high, August
Winter low31 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights85nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days442base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day17 h 50 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day6 h 46 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation82.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°32 °FJanuary: average high 38 °F, low 31 °F 38°31° JanFebruary: average high 39 °F, low 31 °F 39°31° FebMarch: average high 41 °F, low 32 °F 41°32° MarApril: average high 47 °F, low 36 °F 47°36° AprMay: average high 53 °F, low 42 °F 53°42° MayJune: average high 57 °F, low 46 °F 57°46° JunJuly: average high 60 °F, low 49 °F 60°49° JulAugust: average high 61 °F, low 49 °F 61°49° AugSeptember: average high 56 °F, low 46 °F 56°46° SepOctober: average high 49 °F, low 40 °F 49°40° OctNovember: average high 42 °F, low 35 °F 42°35° NovDecember: average high 39 °F, low 32 °F 39°32° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″10″12″January: 8.36 in precipitation 8.4 JanFebruary: 5.24 in precipitation 5.2 FebMarch: 5.06 in precipitation 5.1 MarApril: 4.79 in precipitation 4.8 AprMay: 4.79 in precipitation 4.8 MayJune: 2.91 in precipitation 2.9 JunJuly: 5.02 in precipitation 5.0 JulAugust: 6.60 in precipitation 6.6 AugSeptember: 10.73 in precipitation 10.7 SepOctober: 11.06 in precipitation 11.1 OctNovember: 9.33 in precipitation 9.3 NovDecember: 8.39 in precipitation 8.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Pt Baker, AK (34 mi away); precipitation: Pt Baker, AK (34 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

998337b
Petersburg, AK · 34 mi
999278a
Point Baker, AK · 35 mi
998357b
Sitka, AK · 38 mi
998368a
Port Alexander, AK · 42 mi
998207a
Angoon, AK · 43 mi
999188a
Coffman Cove, AK · 80 mi
999257b
Klawock, AK · 95 mi
998417a
Tenakee Springs, AK · 98 mi

Alaska planting zones →

Questions about 99830

What planting zone is ZIP code 99830?

ZIP code 99830 (Kake, AK) is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 5 to 10 °F (−15 to −12.2 °C).

When is the last frost in Kake, AK?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 99830 is April 19; after May 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pt Baker station.

When is the first frost in Kake, AK?

The median first fall frost near 99830 is October 25, giving a median frost-free growing season of 187 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 99830?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 22 – Mar 8 and set transplants outside around Apr 26 – May 10, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 99830 get?

About 82.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pt Baker station).

How hot do summers get in Kake, AK?

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

What kind of soil does 99830 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Kwatahein at the center of ZIP 99830: silt loam, well drained, pH about 4.3 (strongly acidic).

What kind of onions grow in Kake, AK?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 99830 is 17 h 50 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).