Fairbanks, AK planting zone & frost dates
Fairbanks is in USDA hardiness zone 2b. The last spring frost usually comes around May 16 and the first fall frost around September 6, for a growing season of about 112 days.
Planting calendar for Fairbanks
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (May 16) using the typical timing recommended by U.S. extension services. Warm-season crops go out only after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors: Mar 21 – Apr 4 Transplant outdoors: May 23 – May 30 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Mar 7 – Mar 21 Transplant outdoors: May 30 – Jun 6 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Mar 7 – Mar 21 Transplant outdoors: May 30 – Jun 6 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Mar 7 – Mar 21 Transplant outdoors: Apr 18 – May 2 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Mar 7 – Mar 21 Transplant outdoors: Apr 18 – May 2 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Apr 18 – May 2 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Apr 4 – Apr 18 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Apr 4 – Apr 18 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Apr 18 – May 2 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Apr 18 – May 2 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Apr 18 – May 2 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: May 23 – May 30 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: May 23 – May 30 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: May 23 – May 30 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: May 23 – May 30 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Apr 4 – Apr 18 Transplant outdoors: May 23 – May 30 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Jul 12 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Sep 6).
Useful for zone 2b gardens
- Seed starting kit with dome — to start seeds indoors before the last frost
- LED grow light for seedlings — stops leggy seedlings
- Frost cloth / plant covers — for late spring and early fall frosts
- Soil thermometer — warm-season crops need soil above 60°F
- Cold frame / mini greenhouse — adds weeks to a short season
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Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | May 5 | May 16 | May 29 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Sep 20 | Sep 6 | Aug 25 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after May 29, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before August 25. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around May 7.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Fairbanks
- 99701 zone 3a
- 99706 zone 3b
- 99707 zone 3b
- 99708 zone 2a
- 99709 zone 3b
- 99710 zone 2b
- 99711 zone 2a
- 99712 zone 3b
- 99775 zone 2b
- 99790 zone 3b
Nearby cities
- College zone 2b, last frost May 18
- Badger zone 2a, last frost May 22
- Knik-Fairview zone 5a, last frost May 18
- Eagle River zone 5a, last frost May 9
- Anchorage zone 5a, last frost May 1
- Juneau zone 7a, last frost Apr 20
Questions
What growing zone is Fairbanks, AK?
Fairbanks is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 2b (average extreme winter low -45°F to -40°F), according to the USDA 2023 map. Some ZIP codes of the city fall in zones 2a, 3a, 3b.
When is the last frost in Fairbanks?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Fairbanks is May 16. There is still a 10% chance of frost until May 29.
When can I plant tomatoes in Fairbanks?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around May 23 – May 30. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Aurora, AK (USC00500490), 2.0 km (1.2 mi) from the city center, elevation 135 m, based on 17 years of records. Hardiness zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 for the ZIP code nearest to the city center. Microclimates (valleys, hills, cities, coasts) can be warmer or colder: check the local forecast before planting. How we calculate the data.