What to plant this week in Anchorage, AK
With average last frost dates hovering around May 8, Anchorage gardeners are finally in the green zone for transplanting cool-season crops and starting warm-weather favorites like Zucchini and Watermelon indoors. This week marks a critical transition where you can move hardy edibles like Garlic and Leeks out while preparing your soil for early Potato and Bush Bean plants as temperatures stabilize above freezing.
The next 7 days
Anchorage, AKGrowing in Anchorage right now
- Protect young transplants from lingering late frosts common in May by using row covers, especially since nights can still dip near the -20°F minimum.
- Focus on amending your often clay-heavy or rocky glacial soils with plenty of compost to improve drainage for crops like Cucumber and Squash that hate 'wet feet'.
- Take advantage of the long summer daylight hours by planting tall varieties like Sunflower and Pole Bean now, but watch out for shading effects in dense urban lots.
- Harvest your first early crops like Bush Beans and Edamame immediately to encourage more production before the intense mid-summer heat sets in.
Sow this week
No direct sowing windows open this week.
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
44 crops- Basil
- Borage
- Brussels Sprouts
- Bush Bean
- Cantaloupe
- Celery
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Dahlia
- Edamame
- Fennel
- Flour Corn
- French Marigold
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia)
- Gourd (Ornamental/Bottle)
- Habanero Pepper
- Honeydew Melon
- Leek
- Lima Bean
- Lisianthus (Prairie Gentian)
- Loofah (Luffa)
- Nasturtium
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Parsnip
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- Pumpkin
- Roselle (Cranberry Hibiscus)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Thai Basil
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Watermelon
- Winter Squash
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Focus on soil preparation now by adding compost and organic matter to improve drainage before spring thaw.
- Clean up garden debris and remove winter weeds that may have survived under snow cover.
- Plan your succession planting schedule based on the May 8th last frost date for warm-weather crops.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch closely for aphids on newly transplanted Celery and Parsnip stems as they emerge from cold storage conditions.
- Monitor Potato plants for early blight, a fungal disease that thrives in Anchorage's often damp spring soil moisture.
- Check Gourd and Cucumber vines for cucumber beetles which can appear early when the soil finally warms enough for them to hatch.
Watering this week
Skip outdoor watering entirely until the ground thaws, but ensure storage areas stay dry.
Use this quiet time to order seeds for your summer crops like Watermelon, Zucchini, and Sunflower so they arrive by late winter.
Anchorage gardening questions
3Can I plant Garlic now or do I wait until next fall?
You should start planting your hardening-off Garlic bulbs soon, as Anchorage's short window means fall is the primary time for successful bulb development. If you missed the fall planting, don't worry too much this week; focus on harvesting early crops first and plan to plant Garlic in late August or September.
When should I expect my Summer Squash and Zucchini harvest?
Since these are listed as 'harvest soon,' you may see your first fruits appear within the next two weeks if planted correctly after the last frost date of May 8. Keep an eye on them to ensure they don't get over-mature, which can lead to blossom end rot in our clay soils.
Is it safe to transplant warm-weather seeds like Basil and Tomato right now?
While not explicitly listed for immediate transplant this week, waiting until the soil warms up after May 8 is safer than risking a late frost that could damage tender stems. For the best success with Basil and similar heat-lovers, start them indoors immediately if you haven't already to give them a head start.
Other cities in zone 5a
6See the full zone 5a guide → · Plan your Anchorage garden in SproutGuide →