When to plant in College, AK
USDA Zone 2bCollege, Alaska frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
With only about 111 frost-free days, College has a short season — start heat-lovers indoors early, favor quick-maturing varieties, and use row cover to stretch both ends. Zone 2b is cold — in College, most perennials must be fully hardy, and your frost dates set a tight window for tender annual vegetables.
Frost probability
COLLEGE OBSY · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are College’s own odds, recorded at COLLEGE OBSY.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Jun 16 | May 31 | May 17 | Aug 11 | Aug 26 | Sep 7 |
| 32°F | Jun 1 | May 18 | May 7 | Aug 24 | Sep 6 | Sep 20 |
| 28°F | May 22 | May 7 | Apr 26 | Sep 5 | Sep 20 | Oct 1 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in College, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 4 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
College planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in College, AK?
On average, the last spring frost in College is around May 18 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.
When is the first fall frost in College, AK?
Expect College's first fall frost near September 6 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is College in?
College is in USDA hardiness zone 2b. In zone 2b, winters are cold — pick cold-hardy varieties and protect tender crops.
How long is the growing season in College?
There are roughly 111 frost-free days in College (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around May 18 to the first fall frost near September 6.
When should I plant tomatoes in College?
In College, start tomato seeds indoors around March 23–April 6, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 25 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in College
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to College’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Fairbanks · 9 km
- Badger · 21 km
- North Lakes · 369 km
- Knik-Fairview · 384 km
- Anchorage · 417 km
- Juneau city and · 1016 km
- Birch Bay · 2306 km
- Lynden · 2314 km
Frost dates recorded at COLLEGE OBSY, 2 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in College, AK — Frost Dates & Zone 2b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00502107. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/alaska/college.