When to plant in Fairbanks, AK
USDA Zone 2aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Fairbanks, Alaska — all computed from Fairbanks's nearest NOAA weather station.
A ~113-day frost-free window makes Fairbanks a short-season garden: choose early varieties and start long-season crops indoors well ahead of the last frost. Zone 2a is cold — in Fairbanks, most perennials must be fully hardy, and your frost dates set a tight window for tender annual vegetables.
Frost probability
AURORA · 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 Fairbanks’s own odds, recorded at AURORA.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Jun 8 | May 27 | May 14 | Aug 13 | Aug 27 | Sep 8 |
| 32°F | May 29 | May 16 | May 5 | Aug 25 | Sep 6 | Sep 20 |
| 28°F | May 19 | May 7 | Apr 26 | Sep 4 | Sep 18 | Sep 30 |
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 Fairbanks, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 10 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.
Fairbanks planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Fairbanks, AK?
On average, the last spring frost in Fairbanks is around May 16 (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 Fairbanks, AK?
Expect Fairbanks'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 Fairbanks in?
Fairbanks is in USDA hardiness zone 2a. In zone 2a, winters are cold — pick cold-hardy varieties and protect tender crops.
How long is the growing season in Fairbanks?
There are roughly 113 frost-free days in Fairbanks (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around May 16 to the first fall frost near September 6.
When should I plant tomatoes in Fairbanks?
In Fairbanks, start tomato seeds indoors around March 21–April 4, then transplant seedlings outdoors around May 23 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Fairbanks
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Fairbanks’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- College · 9 km
- Badger · 13 km
- North Lakes · 367 km
- Knik-Fairview · 383 km
- Anchorage · 415 km
- Juneau city and · 1008 km
- Birch Bay · 2297 km
- Lynden · 2305 km
Frost dates recorded at AURORA, 4 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 Fairbanks, AK — Frost Dates & Zone 2a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00500490. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/alaska/fairbanks.