Alaska Gardening Guide (2026)

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

USDA hardiness zone
1โ€“7
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 1โ€“7 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 1โ€“7, last frost โ‰ˆ May 25, first frost โ‰ˆ Sep 10, 108-day season), your Tomato plan:

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

Month-by-month (Alaska, 2026)

MonthAction
Janโ€”
Febโ€”
Marโ€”
AprStart indoors
Mayโ€”
JunSow ยท Transplant
Julโ€”
AugHarvest
Sepโ€”
Octโ€”
Novโ€”
Decโ€”

Start indoors 6 weeks before last frost; transplant after soil warms. Zones 3โ€“13 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 โ†’

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 1โ€“7:

CropTypeSpacingDays to harvest
TomatoWarm-season24โ€ณ70
PepperWarm-season18โ€ณ75
LettuceCool-season8โ€ณ45
CarrotCool-season3โ€ณ65
Green BeansWarm-season4โ€ณ55
SpinachCool-season6โ€ณ40
CucumberWarm-season12โ€ณ55
ZucchiniWarm-season36โ€ณ50
KaleCool-season12โ€ณ55
BroccoliCool-season18โ€ณ70

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.