Frost dates for Bethel, AK
When the last spring frost and first fall frost usually come, and when to plant, from 30 years of NOAA weather records.
Last spring frost
May 21
typical year
Safe to plant
June 2
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
September 22
typical year
Growing season
122 days
frost-free, typical year
Frost watch this week
Tonight's and the next six nights' lows from the National Weather Service forecast for the station's location. Frost: 32°F or colder. Possible frost: 33–36°F, mostly in low spots on clear, still nights.
When to plant
Counted from this page's frost dates. Warm-season crops wait for the safe-to-plant date.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool-season crops | |||
| Peas | – | Apr 23 – May 7 | – |
| Spinach | – | Apr 9 – 30 | Jul 28 – Aug 11 |
| Lettuce | – | Apr 23 – May 14 | Jul 28 – Aug 11 |
| Radishes | – | Apr 23 – Jun 4 | Aug 11 – 25 |
| Onions | – | Apr 23 – May 7 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Apr 30 – May 14 | – |
| Carrots | – | Apr 30 – May 21 | Jun 30 – Jul 14 |
| Beets | – | Apr 23 – May 7 | Jul 14 – 28 |
| Kale | Mar 12 – 26 | Apr 23 – May 7 | Jul 14 – 28 |
| Broccoli | Mar 12 – 26 | May 7 – 21 | Jul 14 – 28 |
| Cabbage | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Apr 23 – May 7 | Jul 14 – 28 |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 11 – Sep 1 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Apr 7 – 21 | Jun 2 – 16 | – |
| Peppers | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | Jun 9 – 23 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | Jun 2 – 23 | – |
| Zucchini | – | Jun 2 – 30 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | Jun 2 – 23 | – |
| Green beans | – | Jun 2 – Jul 14 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 2 – 30 | – |
| Basil | Apr 28 – May 12 | Jun 9 – 16 | – |
Onions: from sets. Green beans: until 10 weeks before the first fall frost. Garlic: harvest next summer.
The year at a glance
Start indoors Plant outside Fall planting
The chance of frost, by date
| 1 year in 10 | Half of years | 9 years in 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring frost after | June 2 | May 21 | May 8 |
| Fall frost before | September 7 | September 22 | October 4 |
Frost here means 32°F or colder. Read across: in 1 year in 10, spring frost carries on past the first date, which is why that date is the safe-to-plant date.
Hard freeze (28°F)
A hard freeze kills most garden plants, even hardy ones. The last one in spring usually comes around May 11 (May 26 in a late year), and the first one in fall around October 1.
Towns that use these dates
This is the nearest NOAA station with frost records for 28 towns.
Bethel, Hooper Bay, Chevak, Kwethluk, Togiak, Quinhagak, Toksook Bay, Pilot Station, Mountain Village, Scammon Bay, Nunapitchuk, St. Mary's, Aniak, Chefornak, Napaskiak, Marshall, Akiak, Russian Mission, Eek, Napakiak, Nightmute, Lower Kalskag, Goodnews Bay, Upper Kalskag, Mekoryuk, Holy Cross, Chuathbaluk, Platinum
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station BETHEL AP, AK US (USW00026615), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 32 zip codes, all within 154 miles:
99551, 99552, 99559, 99561, 99563, 99578, 99585, 99589, 99602, 99604, 99607, 99609, 99614, 99621, 99622, 99626, 99630, 99632, 99634, 99637, 99641, 99650, 99651, 99655, 99657, 99658, 99662, 99678, 99679, 99680, 99681, 99690
25 of these zip codes are more than 30 miles from the station, so their real frost dates may differ by a week or more.
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.