North Pole, AK 99714 Frost Dates
When can you plant in North Pole, AK?
Typically, the last spring freeze lands around 05/20, roughly 265 days out. The first fall frost typically arrives around 09/01, about 104 frost-free days later.
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts North Pole in Zone 3b (-35 to -30°F average annual minimum); frost dates are NOAA's 1991-2020 station normal, not this year's forecast.
What to do before the first frost
About 1 week of growing season left in North Pole before the first fall frost — a cold frame or row cover can stretch harvest weeks past that date.
How much risk comes with planting early here
05/20 is the middle of 30 years of NOAA records, not a promise. Plant by 05/10 and you're betting against frost in roughly 9 years out of 10. 06/03 is the safer bet, historically only a 1-in-10 chance of frost that late.
How North Pole compares
North Pole's growing season runs about 104 days, ranking 39,609 of 40,283 US ZIP codes measured here, longest to shortest. Within AK, it ranks 183 of 269.
Learn more
zone vs. frost date covers why Zone 3b and North Pole's frost date answer different questions. the frost range covers how to read the range around North Pole's dates instead of trusting one.