Frost dates for Elfin Cove, 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
April 26
typical year
Safe to plant
May 8
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
November 1
typical year
Growing season
188 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 | – | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | – |
| Spinach | – | Mar 15 – Apr 5 | Sep 6 – 20 |
| Lettuce | – | Mar 29 – Apr 19 | Sep 6 – 20 |
| Radishes | – | Mar 29 – May 10 | Sep 20 – Oct 4 |
| Onions | – | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Apr 5 – 19 | – |
| Carrots | – | Apr 5 – 26 | Aug 9 – 23 |
| Beets | – | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | Aug 23 – Sep 6 |
| Kale | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | Aug 23 – Sep 6 |
| Broccoli | Feb 15 – Mar 1 | Apr 12 – 26 | Aug 23 – Sep 6 |
| Cabbage | Feb 1 – 15 | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | Aug 23 – Sep 6 |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 20 – Oct 11 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Mar 13 – 27 | May 8 – 22 | – |
| Peppers | Mar 6 – 20 | May 15 – 29 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | May 8 – 29 | – |
| Zucchini | – | May 8 – Jun 5 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | May 8 – 29 | – |
| Green beans | – | May 8 – Aug 23 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 8 – Jun 5 | – |
| Basil | Apr 3 – 17 | May 15 – 22 | – |
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 | May 8 | April 26 | April 8 |
| Fall frost before | October 15 | November 1 | November 18 |
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 March 30 (April 16 in a late year), and the first one in fall around November 19.
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station ELFIN COVE, AK US (USC00502785), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 1 zip code, all within 7 miles:
99825
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.