Frost dates for Nuiqsut, 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 22
typical year
Safe to plant
June 5
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
August 24
typical year
Growing season
94 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 24 – May 8 | – |
| Spinach | – | Apr 10 – May 1 | Jun 29 – Jul 13 |
| Lettuce | – | Apr 24 – May 15 | Jun 29 – Jul 13 |
| Radishes | – | Apr 24 – Jun 5 | Jul 13 – 27 |
| Onions | – | Apr 24 – May 8 | – |
| Potatoes | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Carrots | – | May 1 – 22 | Jun 1 – 15 |
| Beets | – | Apr 24 – May 8 | Jun 15 – 29 |
| Kale | Mar 13 – 27 | Apr 24 – May 8 | Jun 15 – 29 |
| Broccoli | Mar 13 – 27 | May 8 – 22 | Jun 15 – 29 |
| Cabbage | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | Apr 24 – May 8 | Jun 15 – 29 |
| Garlic | – | – | Jul 13 – Aug 3 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Apr 10 – 24 | Jun 5 – 19 | – |
| Peppers | Apr 3 – 17 | Jun 12 – 26 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | Jun 5 – 26 | – |
| Zucchini | – | Jun 5 – Jul 3 | – |
| Pumpkins | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Green beans | – | Jun 5 – 15 | – |
| Sweet corn | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Basil | May 1 – 15 | Jun 12 – 19 | – |
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 5 | May 22 | May 11 |
| Fall frost before | August 10 | August 24 | September 9 |
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 13 (May 28 in a late year), and the first one in fall around September 5.
Towns that use these dates
This is the nearest NOAA station with frost records for 6 towns.
Nuiqsut, Anaktuvuk Pass, Kaktovik, Allakaket, Kobuk, Bettles
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station BETTLES AP, AK US (USW00026533), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 9 zip codes, all within 297 miles:
99519, 99701, 99720, 99721, 99726, 99734, 99747, 99751, 99789
8 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.