USDA hardiness zone lookup
Fairbanks (99701) — USDA Zone 2a
Fairbanks, Alaska · 92-day growing season
Frost dates and growing season for 99701
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 2a |
|---|---|
| Average last spring frost | May 25 |
| Average first fall frost | August 25 |
| Growing season length | ~92 days |
| Temperature range (F) | -50 to -40°F |
| Temperature range (C) | -46 to -40°C |
These are 50%-probability averages modeled from this ZIP's USDA hardiness zone and regional climate normals — not a single-station reading. In a typical year the last spring frost will have passed by May 25, but in a colder-than-average year it can run 1-2 weeks later. Plant tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) once both soil and night temperatures are consistently warm — a thermometer beats the calendar.
Growing season in Fairbanks
Fairbanks, Alaska sits in USDA Zone 2a, with roughly 92 frost-free days between an average last spring frost around May 25 and a first fall frost around August 25. That is a short season — start warm-season crops indoors 6-8 weeks early and lean on quick-maturing, cold-tolerant cultivars to beat the first fall frost.
What grows in Fairbanks
Fairbanks falls in USDA Zone 2a, which means the same hardiness constraints apply as the full Zone 2 guide. Vegetables, herbs, and fruit trees rated to Zone 2a (or hardier) will overwinter here in a typical year.
- Saskatoon berry
- Highbush cranberry
- Currants
- Gooseberries
- Carrots
- Beets
- Spinach
- Kale
- Cabbage
- Peas
What to plant in Fairbanks this week
Fairbanks's last frost is around May 25. This is the spring transplant window — start tomatoes and peppers indoors if you haven't, and direct-sow cold-tolerant crops now.
Full planting calendar for Fairbanks
Crop-by-crop sowing, transplant, and harvest dates calibrated to zone 2 averages:
- When to plant garlic in zone 2
- When to plant lettuce in zone 2
- When to plant peas in zone 2
- When to plant carrots in zone 2
Local microclimate notes
Zone tables give you the average — but Fairbanksgardens vary. South-facing walls and paved areas can run a full half-zone warmer than the published rating. Low-lying spots, frost pockets, and shaded north sides can run colder. If you've gardened here a few seasons, your own frost record (the last time you actually got frost damage) is more accurate than any national average.
Source and methodology
Hardiness zone from the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023 revision). Frost-date and growing-season figures are modeled from this ZIP's USDA hardiness zone and regional NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals — they are zone-level estimates, not a per-station record, so treat them as planning guidance and confirm against your own local frost history. Crop recommendations are drawn from US Cooperative Extension references and curated by the Growli editorial team. Last reviewed May 2026.
Nearby ZIP codes in Alaska
- 99501 — Anchorage (Zone 5a)
- 99801 — Juneau (Zone 6b)
- 99508 — Anchorage (Midtown) (Zone 5a)
- 99504 — Anchorage (East) (Zone 4b)
- 99515 — Anchorage (South) (Zone 5a)
- 99654 — Wasilla (Zone 4a)
- 99645 — Palmer (Zone 4a)
- 99709 — Fairbanks (College) (Zone 2b)
- 99603 — Homer (Zone 5b)
- 99901 — Ketchikan (Zone 7a)
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