What Alaska Gardeners Need to Know This Spring
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Alaska is the largest, coldest state in the United States. The land is much farther north than the rest of the states, and it can be downright inhospitable at times despite its incredible natural beauty. Planting a garden in this state requires knowing about the climate, growing season, and precipitation in the region. Discover what Alaska gardeners must know this spring to successfully grow plants near their homes.
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Alaska’s Climate Conditions
Alaska is a large state with many climates.
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Alaska is the northernmost state in the U.S., and it has a very unique climate compared to many other states. The region is mostly subarctic, but it also contains dry-summer subarctic, subpolar oceanic, and oceanic types. The far north of the state is considered a tundra. Alaska gardeners will have a much harder time than most trying to get their gardens started.
The majority of the climate in the state is subarctic, meaning the area has short and mild summers along with winters that can vary wildly, bringing extreme cold that lasts well into the spring.
In Anchorage, January is the coldest month with an average high of 23 °F and a low of 14 °F. That temperature improves to 53 °F as a high and 42 °F as a low in April. The first frost usually arrives by the end of September.
Despite having areas with a lot of precipitation, the state has a short growing season that limits the production of crops throughout the state. The average growing season length is just over 100 days, with the majority of the state experiencing the first frost by early September.
The amount of annual precipitation that falls in Alaska ranges from 12 inches in the interior to about 200 inches in the southeastern panhandle. The amount of precipitation that falls in this state can significantly range over relatively short distances.
Alaska has fewer sunny days than most states in the U.S. Places like Fairbanks get 156 days of sunlight while Anchorage gets 126 days with sun. That’s far below the average of 205 days of sun in the U.S.
The Weather Challenges That Alaska Gardeners Face
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Alaska gardeners face many issues with gardening. The first issue is that the state’s winters can be brutally cold. Places like Utqiagvik are so cold that their average high doesn’t get above freezing until June! It’s not always the most remote areas that experience extreme cold, either.
The coldest January in Alaska on record occurred in 2012. During that month, the state had an average daily high temperature of -5.4 °F and an average low of -20.2 °F. Meanwhile, the coldest temperature ever recorded in the state was -79.96 °F in Prospect Creek.
The cold temperatures limit the types of plants that Alaska gardeners can grow as well as the growing season. Still, another major challenge that these gardeners face is snowfall.
Places like Anchorage see almost 80 inches of snow per year. While that’s a lot of snow for many places in the continental United States, other areas in the state can see over 300 inches of snow in a season. Snow can fall throughout much of early spring, well into April.
All these challenges are profound, and they don’t even address the fact that Alaska’s climate is beginning to change and become warmer. That could lead to a longer growing season, but it also brings about unwelcome changes such as snow hazards, insect infestations, and water quality issues.
How Has Recent Weather Impacted Alaska?
Aerial View of a Sunset over Downtown Anchorage, Alaska in Spring
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While April has been exceptionally warm for some parts of the country, it’s still winter in Alaska. Blinding snowstorms swept through Anchorage, Girdwood, Portage Valley, and other places. Blowing winds produced snow drifts and kept residents inside. Still, the impact on Alaska gardeners will be minimal since it’s still too early to start planting in the state.
The aurora borealis near Fairbanks, AK
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The last frost date refers to the time of year when people can begin planting their crops and flowers because the danger of freezing temperatures has passed. While some places in the U.S. are ready for planting in early March, that is certainly not the case in Alaska. Check out an assortment of cities and towns around Alaska and see when it’s safe to plant.
CityLast Frost DateAnchorageMay 4FairbanksMay 21Port HeidenMay 17KaltagJune 1
The last frost date is not set in stone. Sudden temperature drops can kill newly planted crops. That’s why it’s best to look at the long-range weather outlook around the dates listed above. With a clear picture of the future weather, every gardener can decide if it is safe for them to plant.
5 Plants Alaska Gardeners Can Grow (And When to Plant Them)
Young seedlings of cabbage in spring on a garden bed.
Alaska gardeners do well when they plant crops that grow well in cool weather. Take a look at an assortment of plants that can grow well in Alaska. Find out when to plant them inside, when to transplant them, and when to start them outside. The planting dates are based on the last frost date for Anchorage.
1. Peas
You can safely start peas outdoors before the last frost date. Place them in the soil between March 23 and April 13, and they should embrace the cool soil and grow well. Make sure to pick mature peas as soon as they’re ready to come off the plant. That way, more can come in.
2. Carrot
Carrots are also somewhat cold resistant vegetables, so they do well in this region. You can start them in the ground between March 30 and April 14.
3. Cabbage
Gardeners in Alaska can start their cabbage indoors between March 8 and March 23. Then, you can plant it outdoors in the soil during the last two weeks of April.
4. Broccoli
Start broccoli indoors between March 8 and March 23, and then plant it outdoors between April 10 and April 27.
5. Lettuce
Lettuce is another vegetable that people with green thumbs can grow in this state. Start lettuce inside between March 24 and April 7. Next, plant it outside between April 20 and May 18.
Remember that these dates are guidelines for just one part of the state. Every Alaskan gardener needs to understand their local area before trying to plant any flowers or crops. With some patience and perseverance, most people living in the state could grow flowers and vegetables during the state’s short growing season.
