When to plant potatoes in Alaska
Alaska’s average last spring frost is May 17, and the first fall frost typically arrives around September 13 — about 119 frost-free days (USDA zones 1a, 2b, 3b, 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b, 8b). Potato needs 70–120 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Alaska's growing season.
Alaska covers a wide range of climates, so your exact frost dates may differ from the state average by two weeks or more. For dates tuned to your town, use the calendar generator.
When to plant potatoes in Alaska: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Apr 28 – May 17. Seeds germinate in soil from 45 to 80°F.
Windows are ~1–2 week bands around each date. Frost dates are a statewide average from NOAA/NCEI normals; your town may differ by two weeks or more. Calendar year 2026.
How to grow potatoes in Alaska, step by step
- Prepare the bed. They need at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day and loose soil at least 18 inches deep, with a pH between 4.8 and 6.5. Dig in compost before planting.
- Sow outdoors (Apr 28 – May 17). Space plants about 12 inches apart in rows 32 inches apart, sowing seed 4 inches deep. It tolerates a light frost but not a hard freeze. As a cool-season crop it does best before summer heat arrives in Alaska.
- Water and feed. Give it steady, even moisture, about an inch of water a week from rain or the hose.
- Watch for pests and problems. Pests: Colorado potato beetle, flea beetle, wireworm, aphids. Diseases and disorders: late blight, early blight, common scab, blackleg.
- Harvest (from about Jul 12 – Aug 31). Potato takes 70-120 days to reach harvest. Plant certified seed potatoes, not grocery-store ones. Hill soil or mulch over the stems as they grow to stop greening. New potatoes ~10 weeks in; storage potatoes after the tops die back.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Alaska’s average frost dates. More in the full potato growing guide.
Potato planting dates by USDA zone in Alaska
Alaska spans USDA zones 1a, 2b, 3b, 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b, 8b. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average, so the potato dates shift with them.
| Zone | Last frost | First frost | Season | Start indoors | Plant potato |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | Jun 15 | Aug 20 | 65 days | - | May 27 – Jun 15 |
| Zone 2 | Jun 1 | Sep 1 | 90 days | - | May 13 – Jun 1 |
| Zone 3 | May 15 | Sep 15 | 120 days | - | Apr 26 – May 15 |
| Zone 4 | May 10 | Sep 25 | 135 days | - | Apr 21 – May 10 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 | Oct 5 | 160 days | - | Apr 11 – Apr 30 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 | Oct 15 | 185 days | - | Mar 27 – Apr 15 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 | Oct 25 | 200 days | - | Mar 17 – Apr 5 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 | Nov 5 | 230 days | - | Mar 1 – Mar 20 |
When to plant potatoes in nearby states
| State | Last frost | Sow |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska (this page) | May 17 | Apr 28 – May 17 |
| Hawaii | frost-free | - |
Questions gardeners in Alaska ask
When is the best time to plant potatoes in Alaska?
Sow potatoes in Alaska between April 28 and May 17. That timing is set by Alaska's average last spring frost of May 17; Alaska spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
When will potatoes planted in Alaska be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, potatoes are usually ready from about July 12 to August 31, 70-120 days after sowing.
When is the last frost in Alaska?
On average around May 17, with the first fall frost around September 13 - about 119 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.