Alaska Gardening Guide (2026)

Extreme range from Arctic tundra to mild maritime south-central. Short but intense season with long daylight.

Garden countdownToday: Aug 19

USDA 2023 zones + NOAA 1991-2020 frost normals. Estimates — check your local forecast before planting.

USDA hardiness zone
17
Region
Alaska/Hawaii
Typical last spring frost
05/25
Typical first fall frost
09/10
Frost-free season
108 days
Lawn grass type
Cool-season

Quick answer (Alaska): Most of the state gardens in USDA zones 17 with about a 108-day frost-free window. Plan around the typical last frost of 05/25; start warm-season crops indoors ~6 weeks earlier. Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023) + state cooperative extension typical freeze dates.

Your Alaska planting calendar

Pre-filled for Alaska. Pick a crop to see indoor start, sow/transplant, and harvest dates you can print.

In Alaska (typical zone 17, last frost ≈ May 25, first frost ≈ Sep 10, 108-day season), your Tomato plan:

Start seeds indoors
Apr 13
Sow / transplant outdoors
Jun 8
First harvest
Aug 17
Spacing / depth
24″ / 0.25

Month-by-month (Alaska, 2026)

MonthAction
Jan
Feb
Mar
AprStart indoors
May
JunSow · Transplant
Jul
AugHarvest
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Start indoors 6 weeks before last frost; transplant after soil warms. Zones 313 suitable. Dates are typical; confirm with your county extension and watch the 10-day forecast.

Lawns in Alaska

Best grass types for your climate:

Kentucky BluegrassTall FescuePerennial RyegrassFine Fescue

Open the lawn care scheduler →

Common pests in Alaska

The pests most reported in your region, with organic-first treatments:

Cabbage MaggotAphidsSlugs & Snails

Cabbage Maggot

Targets
Cabbage, broccoli, radish, onion
Signs
Wilting seedlings; tunnels in roots.
Organic / IPM first
Row covers; beneficial nematodes; crop rotation.
Chemical option (follow label)
Cyromazine or spinosad soil drench at seedling stage.
Prevention
Delay planting; use floating row cover barrier.

What grows well in Alaska

Crops suitable for zones 17:

CropTypeSpacingDays to harvest
TomatoWarm-season2470
PepperWarm-season1875
LettuceCool-season845
CarrotCool-season365
Green BeansWarm-season455
SpinachCool-season640
CucumberWarm-season1255
ZucchiniWarm-season3650
KaleCool-season1255
BroccoliCool-season1870

Figures are typical (30-year normals) from USDA and state extension services. Always confirm your local last/first freeze and product labels with your county extension before acting.