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

Planting zone for 99929 — Wrangell, AK

ZIP code 99929 (Wrangell, City and Borough of Wrangell) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 11 and the first fall frost November 1.

Where ZIP 99929 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 11
First frostNov 1
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 Wrangell, 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 Wrangell, AK

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 11median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 29only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 1median — 10% chance by Oct 13
Growing season202 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 24 and returns around November 18.

From the NOAA station Wrangell Airport, AK — 25 miles away, elevation 56 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 99929

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
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 11) 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 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 Wrangell, AK.

Soil in Wrangell, AK

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 99929 is Mitkof — sandy loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter13.5%high
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Mitkof-Mosman complex, 5 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 99929; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Wrangell, AK

Summer high64 °Faverage high, July
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 days821base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day17 h 41 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day6 h 54 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°32 °FJanuary: average high 36 °F, low 29 °F 36°29° JanFebruary: average high 39 °F, low 30 °F 39°30° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 32 °F 42°32° MarApril: average high 50 °F, low 37 °F 50°37° AprMay: average high 58 °F, low 44 °F 58°44° MayJune: average high 61 °F, low 49 °F 61°49° JunJuly: average high 64 °F, low 52 °F 64°52° JulAugust: average high 63 °F, low 52 °F 63°52° AugSeptember: average high 58 °F, low 48 °F 58°48° SepOctober: average high 49 °F, low 41 °F 49°41° OctNovember: average high 41 °F, low 35 °F 41°35° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 31 °F 37°31° 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: Wrangell Airport, AK (25 mi away); precipitation: Thorne Bay, AK (43 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

999037b
Meyers Chuck, AK · 34 mi
999188a
Coffman Cove, AK · 36 mi
999017b
Ketchikan, AK · 44 mi
999197b
Thorne Bay, AK · 46 mi
999217b
Craig, AK · 57 mi
999288a
Ward Cove, AK · 58 mi
999257b
Klawock, AK · 61 mi
998337b
Petersburg, AK · 64 mi

Alaska planting zones →

Questions about 99929

What planting zone is ZIP code 99929?

ZIP code 99929 (Wrangell, 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 Wrangell, AK?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 99929 is April 11; after April 29 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wrangell Airport station.

When is the first frost in Wrangell, AK?

The median first fall frost near 99929 is November 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 202 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 99929?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 14 – Feb 28 and set transplants outside around Apr 18 – May 2, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 99929 get?

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

How hot do summers get in Wrangell, AK?

The average high peaks at 64 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 99929 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Mitkof at the center of ZIP 99929: sandy loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

What kind of onions grow in Wrangell, AK?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 99929 is 17 h 41 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).