Frost dates for Mile Steese, 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 28
typical year
Safe to plant
June 19
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
August 26
typical year
Growing season
87 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 30 – May 14 | – |
| Spinach | – | Apr 16 – May 7 | Jul 1 – 15 |
| Lettuce | – | Apr 30 – May 21 | Jul 1 – 15 |
| Radishes | – | Apr 30 – Jun 11 | Jul 15 – 29 |
| Onions | – | Apr 30 – May 14 | – |
| Potatoes | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Carrots | – | May 7 – 28 | Jun 3 – 17 |
| Beets | – | Apr 30 – May 14 | Jun 17 – Jul 1 |
| Kale | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | Apr 30 – May 14 | Jun 17 – Jul 1 |
| Broccoli | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | May 14 – 28 | Jun 17 – Jul 1 |
| Cabbage | Mar 5 – 19 | Apr 30 – May 14 | Jun 17 – Jul 1 |
| Garlic | – | – | Jul 15 – Aug 5 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Peppers | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Cucumbers | – | Jun 19 – Jul 10 | – |
| Zucchini | – | Jun 19 – Jul 17 | – |
| Pumpkins | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Green beans | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Sweet corn | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Basil | May 15 – 29 | Jun 26 – Jul 3 | – |
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 19 | May 28 | May 15 |
| Fall frost before | August 9 | August 26 | September 8 |
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 14 (May 30 in a late year), and the first one in fall around September 6.
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station MILE 42 STEESE, AK US (USC00505880), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 4 zip codes, all within 78 miles:
99707, 99724, 99774, 99790
3 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.