In the garden now (2 November 2026)
Anchorage planting calendar
Bars show when each crop can go in and when a planting from that window is ready. The blue band is the frost season, from the average first autumn frost to the average last spring frost. Hover or tap a crop for details.
Sow indoorsSow or plant outdoorsHarvestFrost seasonToday
Swipe sideways to see the whole year →
Dates by crop
| Crop | Sow indoors | Sow / plant outdoors | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Summers are too cool for a reliable outdoor crop. Grow it in a greenhouse or polytunnel. | ||
| Pepper | Summers are too cool for a reliable outdoor crop. Grow it in a greenhouse or polytunnel. | ||
| Eggplant (aubergine) | Summers are too cool for a reliable outdoor crop. Grow it in a greenhouse or polytunnel. | ||
| Cucumber | Summers are too cool for a reliable outdoor crop. Grow it in a greenhouse or polytunnel. | ||
| Zucchini (courgette) | No outdoor window passes all the checks here; grow it under cover or try a specialist variety. | ||
| Pumpkin and winter squash | Summers are too cool for a reliable outdoor crop. Grow it in a greenhouse or polytunnel. | ||
| Watermelon | Summers are too cool for a reliable outdoor crop. Grow it in a greenhouse or polytunnel. | ||
| Sweet corn | Summers are too cool for a reliable outdoor crop. Grow it in a greenhouse or polytunnel. | ||
| Green beans | No outdoor window passes all the checks here; grow it under cover or try a specialist variety. | ||
| Peas | – | May 1 – Jul 13 sow | Jul 21 – Oct 6 |
| Lettuce | Mar 23 – Apr 20 | Apr 27 – Jul 27 sow | Jul 6 – Oct 9 |
| Spinach | – | Apr 22 – Aug 1 sow | Jun 30 – Oct 29 |
| Kale | Mar 16 – Apr 20 | Apr 27 – Jul 17 sow | Jul 15 – Nov 13 |
| Cabbage | Mar 18 – Apr 22 | May 6 – Jul 3 plant out | Aug 1 – Oct 20 |
| Broccoli | Mar 18 – Apr 22 | May 6 – Jul 13 plant out | Jul 22 – Oct 13 |
| Carrots | – | May 6 – Jul 8 sow | Jul 27 – Nov 13 |
| Beets (beetroot) | – | May 6 – Jul 17 sow | Jul 17 – Oct 20 |
| Radishes | – | Apr 27 – Aug 18 sow | Jun 13 – Oct 13 |
| Onions | Feb 20 – Mar 27 | May 1 – Jun 6 plant out | Aug 25 – Sep 29 |
| Garlic | – | Aug 21 – Sep 24 sow | Jun 14 – Jul 4 |
| Potatoes | – | May 10 – Jun 11 sow | Aug 23 – Sep 29 |
| Swiss chard | – | May 10 – Jul 22 sow | Jul 14 – Oct 20 |
| Basil | Summers are too cool for a reliable outdoor crop. Grow it in a greenhouse or polytunnel. | ||
| Cilantro (coriander) | – | May 6 – Aug 6 sow | Jun 28 – Oct 13 |
| Parsley | Mar 15 – Apr 19 | May 10 – Jul 3 sow | Aug 2 – Oct 29 |
Dates are for a typical year and the middle of the window is the safest. Sow a little at a time across a window rather than all at once. Cold snaps, heat waves, frost pockets and city warmth all shift the real dates; watch the forecast.
Frost dates in Anchorage
- Average last spring frost
- May 1
- Late frost (1 year in 10)
- May 9
- Average first autumn frost
- September 29
- Early frost (1 year in 10)
- September 17
- Frost-free growing season
- 150 days
“Average” is the date with an even chance of a later (spring) or earlier (autumn) frost: a night at or below 0 °C (32 °F) at screen height. Tender crops go out a week or two after the spring date, which brings the risk down to about one year in ten.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Anchorage Merrill Fld (2 km from the city centre).
Climate at a glance
- Hardiness zone
- 5b from station records
- Average coldest winter night
- -26°C-15°F
- Warmest month
- July, highs 19°C67°F
- Coldest month
- January, lows -12°C11°F
- Crops with an outdoor window
- 15 of 25
The zone follows the USDA scheme: bands of the average lowest temperature of the year, 10 °F wide, split into a and b halves. Worked out from the coldest night of each year 1991–2020 at the NOAA station. It tells you which perennials survive winter, not when to sow.
Temperature and rain by month
Average highAverage lowRainFreezing point
| Month | High | Low | Mean | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -4°C24°F | -12°C11°F | -8°C18°F | 70 mm2.8 in |
| February | -2°C29°F | -9°C15°F | -6°C22°F | 66 mm2.6 in |
| March | 1°C34°F | -7°C19°F | -3°C27°F | 49 mm1.9 in |
| April | 8°C46°F | -1°C31°F | 3°C38°F | 37 mm1.4 in |
| May | 14°C58°F | 5°C42°F | 10°C50°F | 41 mm1.6 in |
| June | 18°C65°F | 10°C50°F | 14°C57°F | 46 mm1.8 in |
| July | 19°C67°F | 12°C53°F | 16°C60°F | 68 mm2.7 in |
| August | 18°C65°F | 10°C51°F | 14°C58°F | 110 mm4.3 in |
| September | 13°C56°F | 6°C43°F | 10°C50°F | 148 mm5.8 in |
| October | 6°C43°F | 0°C31°F | 3°C37°F | 103 mm4.1 in |
| November | -1°C30°F | -7°C19°F | -4°C24°F | 75 mm3.0 in |
| December | -3°C26°F | -10°C14°F | -7°C20°F | 93 mm3.7 in |
Monthly averages 1991–2020 from TerraClimate (about 4 km grid).