What to plant this week in Anchorage, AK
With average last frost dates hovering around May 8, Anchorage gardeners are finally seeing the long winter thaw settle into productive soil, marking a critical window to harvest summer staples like tomatoes and carrots while sowing heat-loving crops like Yellow Summer Squash and Zucchini. The unique sub-arctic climate demands a fast-paced approach this week, as you must maximize the brief growing season between late spring frosts and early October freezes.
The next 7 days
Anchorage, AKGrowing in Anchorage right now
- Anchorage's northern latitude creates a short window, so focus on quick-maturing varieties for your tomato and pepper crops to ensure harvest before the first frost in mid-October.
- The city's heavy clay soil retains moisture well but requires careful drainage; amend garden beds with compost and avoid overwatering during our frequent spring rain showers.
- Utilize the mild microclimates found along Cook Inlet or south-facing slopes of the Anchorage Peninsula to extend your harvest window for crops like Swiss Chard and Napa Cabbage.
Sow this week
2 crops- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zucchini
Transplant this week
Nothing is due to go out this week.
Harvest soon
55 crops- Bachelor's Button (Cornflower)
- Banana Pepper
- Basil
- Beet
- Bell Pepper
- Borage
- Bush Bean
- Cabbage
- Carrot
- Cauliflower
- Cherry Tomato
- Cleome (Spider Flower)
- Collard Greens
- Cosmos
- Cowpea (Black-Eyed Pea)
- Cucumber
- Dill
- Eggplant
- Fava (Broad) Bean
- Fennel
- French Marigold
- Garden Geranium (Zonal)
- Garden Verbena
- Garlic
- Ground Cherry
- Jalapeño
- Lantana
- Lima Bean
- Napa Cabbage
- Nasturtium
- Onion
- Ornamental Sweet Potato Vine
- Parsley
- Petunia
- Poblano Pepper
- Pole Bean
- Potato
- Roma Tomato
- Rutabaga
- Scallion (Bunching Onion)
- Scarlet Runner Bean
- Shallot
- Shishito Pepper
- Shiso (Japanese Basil)
- Snapdragon
- Summer Savory
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Swiss Chard
- Thai Basil
- Tomato
- Vinca (Madagascar Periwinkle)
- Yellow Summer Squash
- Zinnia
- Zucchini
Seasonal tips
- Start succession sowing bush beans and snapdragons every two weeks for a continuous harvest.
- Deadhead Cosmos and Cleome regularly to encourage more blooms throughout the summer.
- Thin out carrot and beet seedlings now to give remaining plants enough room to mature.
Pest & disease watch
- Watch closely for Colorado potato beetles on your Potato and Sweet Corn plants, as warm soils are activating early egg-laying this week.
- Monitor for aphids clustering on new growth of Basil, Peas, and Bean varieties, which thrive in the humid conditions common during Anchorage's rainy season.
Watering this week
Water deeply in the morning to keep roots cool and reduce evaporation during this hot season.
Harvest your first ripe cherry tomatoes today to enjoy their peak flavor while they are young and tender.
Anchorage gardening questions
3Can I plant Zucchini or Yellow Summer Squash outside now?
Yes, you can sow these directly into the ground this week because soil temperatures have finally warmed enough for germination before our May 8 frost date. Ensure they are placed in a sheltered spot to protect them from any unexpected late frosts.
What should I do about my Tomato and Pepper harvests that are ripening now?
Start checking your Cherry Tomatoes, Roma Tomatoes, and Jalapeños daily; if you see fruit turning color on the vine before October 8, cut them off to save them for storage or freezing. Prioritize harvesting completely ripe produce immediately as sudden temperature drops will halt ripening instantly.
How do I handle the heavy clay soil common in Anchorage gardens?
Improve drainage by mixing in generous amounts of organic compost and building raised beds if you have poor spots in your yard. Avoid walking on wet garden beds to prevent compaction, which is a major issue with our local clay.
Other cities in zone 5a
6See the full zone 5a guide → · Plan your Anchorage garden in SproutGuide →