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

Planting zone for 99921 — Craig, AK

ZIP code 99921 (Craig, Prince of Wales-Hyder County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 1 and the first fall frost October 13.

Where ZIP 99921 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 frostMay 1
First frostOct 13
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 Craig, 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 Craig, AK

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 16only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 13median — 10% chance by Oct 1
Growing season166 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 11 and returns around October 30.

From the NOAA station Thorne Bay, AK — 14 miles away, elevation 285 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 99921

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
TomatoesTransplant · May 8 – May 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 15 – May 29
BeansSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 8 – May 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 18 – Sep 1
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 29 – Nov 3
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 1) and first fall frost (Oct 13) 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 Craig, AK.

Soil in Craig, AK

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 99921 is Karta — mucky peat, moderately well drained.

TextureMucky peattop layer
pH3.6strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter80%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Karta very fine sandy loam, 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 99921; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Craig, AK

Summer high66 °Faverage high, July
Winter low28 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights118nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days765base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day17 h 30 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day7 h 03 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation85.2 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°32 °FJanuary: average high 38 °F, low 28 °F 38°28° JanFebruary: average high 40 °F, low 28 °F 40°28° FebMarch: average high 43 °F, low 30 °F 43°30° MarApril: average high 50 °F, low 34 °F 50°34° AprMay: average high 57 °F, low 40 °F 57°40° MayJune: average high 63 °F, low 46 °F 63°46° JunJuly: average high 66 °F, low 51 °F 66°51° JulAugust: average high 65 °F, low 50 °F 65°50° AugSeptember: average high 59 °F, low 45 °F 59°45° SepOctober: average high 51 °F, low 38 °F 51°38° OctNovember: average high 42 °F, low 32 °F 42°32° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 30 °F 38°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″10″12″January: 8.16 in precipitation 8.2 JanFebruary: 5.46 in precipitation 5.5 FebMarch: 6.25 in precipitation 6.3 MarApril: 5.09 in precipitation 5.1 AprMay: 3.51 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 4.08 in precipitation 4.1 JunJuly: 5.30 in precipitation 5.3 JulAugust: 6.98 in precipitation 7.0 AugSeptember: 8.63 in precipitation 8.6 SepOctober: 12.12 in precipitation 12.1 OctNovember: 10.52 in precipitation 10.5 NovDecember: 9.08 in precipitation 9.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Thorne Bay, AK (14 mi away); precipitation: Thorne Bay, AK (14 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

999257b
Klawock, AK · 10 mi
999197b
Thorne Bay, AK · 12 mi
999228a
Hydaburg, AK · 20 mi
999188a
Coffman Cove, AK · 28 mi
999037b
Meyers Chuck, AK · 28 mi
999288a
Ward Cove, AK · 41 mi
999017b
Ketchikan, AK · 53 mi
999268a
Metlakatla, AK · 55 mi

Alaska planting zones →

Questions about 99921

What planting zone is ZIP code 99921?

ZIP code 99921 (Craig, 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 Craig, AK?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 99921 is May 1; after May 16 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Thorne Bay station.

When is the first frost in Craig, AK?

The median first fall frost near 99921 is October 13, giving a median frost-free growing season of 166 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 99921?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 6 – Mar 20 and set transplants outside around May 8 – May 22, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 99921 get?

About 85.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Thorne Bay station).

How hot do summers get in Craig, AK?

The average high peaks at 66 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 99921 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Karta at the center of ZIP 99921: mucky peat, moderately well drained, pH about 3.6 (strongly acidic).

What kind of onions grow in Craig, AK?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 99921 is 17 h 30 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).