When to Plant Garlic in Alaska
In Alaska, the time to plant garlic in fall runs from Sep 6 – Oct 4 in Fairbanks to Nov 9 – Dec 7 in Ketchikan. In Anchorage, it's Sep 20 – Oct 18. The average first fall frost differs by about 9 weeks across the state (Sep 6 in Fairbanks, Nov 9 in Ketchikan), so use the dates for the town nearest you.
Garlic is planted in fall, around the first frost, and harvested the next summer. Cloves need a cold winter to form good bulbs.
- Plant: from the first fall frost up to 4 weeks after it.
Garlic planting dates in Alaska by city
| City | Zone | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|
| Anchorage | 5a | Sep 20 – Oct 18 |
| Bethel | 4a | Sep 22 – Oct 20 |
| Fairbanks | 2a | Sep 6 – Oct 4 |
| Homer | 6a | Sep 29 – Oct 27 |
| Juneau | 6a | Oct 14 – Nov 11 |
| Kenai | 4b | Sep 12 – Oct 10 |
| Ketchikan | 8a | Nov 9 – Dec 7 |
| Kodiak | 7b | Oct 14 – Nov 11 |
| Palmer | 5a | Sep 25 – Oct 23 |
| Sitka | 7b | Oct 18 – Nov 15 |
| Wasilla | 5a | Sep 23 – Oct 21 |
Calculated from each town's average (50%) frost dates, from the nearest NOAA station (1991–2020). Typical dates for the 2027 planting season, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 averages. They are long-term odds, not a forecast: always check your local forecast before planting. Zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA-ARS and Oregon State University). Not the official map; see planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
See all frost dates in Alaska, or the general guide to when to plant garlic.
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