This is the Frosty Garden seed starting schedule that we use for our vegetable, flower and herb gardens within Interior Alaska.
Our Complete Zone 2a to 4b Sowing Schedules:
Vegetable & Herb Seeding Schedule
Flower Seeding Schedule
If you are interested in starting your own vegetables from seed, following a seed starting schedule is important!
Different plants take different amounts of time to germinate and grow to an appropriate size for transplanting. Following a schedule for your region will ensure that your plants are the right size for transplanting outdoors.
The full guide on this page will be adequate for USDA zones 2A through 4B. We also provide date corrections & general guidance for all of Alaska and other northern areas!
Not sure what USDA zone you’re in, live in a different part of Alaska or maybe another country? We’ve got you covered! We also have northern seed planting schedules on easy mode!
Skip right to the schedules with the links below if you like, or read on for some introductory information about our Alaska planting schedule.
New! Downloadable Versions Of Our Planting Schedule!
USDA Zones 1a-1b (Northern Alaska)
USDA Zones 2a-4b (Interior & South Central Alaska)
USDA Zones 5a-7b (Southern Alaska)
USDA Zones 8a-8b (Extreme Southern Alaska)
Last Updated: 3/3/2023
These downloadable seed planting schedules are the “easy mode” for garden planting schedules. If you don’t find what you’re looking for on these schedules, be sure to check our more thorough sowing schedule below.
Month By Month Planting Articles
These are our guides for what you should be planting based on the month in zones 2A through 4B:
What You Should Be Planting In March
What You Should Be Planting In April
What You Should Be Planting In May
Is this your first year and not sure where to start? We have a bunch of articles written about this subject as well as detailed information about our plant germination & raising techniques. Lots of gardening tips, too!
Notes About The Frosty Garden Planting Schedule
- Our schedule is sortable and searchable to make things easier to find. Try searching for “cold hardy” to find all cold hardy plants. Or “zone 3” to find zone 3 perennials.
- The default ordering (when this page loads) is essentially in order of when we plant them.
- The “Weeks Before Last Frost” indicates how many weeks prior to your last frost date to plant seeds. For Alaska’s primary USDA zones, these dates are:
Zone 1A-1B: June 15th
Zone 2A-4B: June 1st
Zone 5A-7B: May 1st
Zone 8A-8B: April 1st
Remember, these are averages, not absolutes! Actual last frost dates can come prior or after the estimated date!
- Our schedule is tuned toward home scale gardening, not commercial production. Commercial plants are often sowed earlier to make them more attractive to the buyer. Younger plants are easier to work with and more successfully transplanted. Both get to the same goal.
- A plus in the schedule indicates it is sowed after last frost, by the stated number of weeks.
- The schedule indicates whether we sow indoors or direct sow in our outdoor gardens.
- Where appropriate, we have put notes relevant to the process, variety considerations and notes specific to subarctic growing that we’ve learned.
- When a range is stated, we usually choose the earlier schedule, but any dates within the range are acceptable. If you have limited indoor growing space, the later dates are recommended. You can also use succession planting techniques which can extend your harvest over time.
- If you compare the flower schedule to other regions like the lower-48, you will find that some varieties are sowed much earlier than you might see recommended in warmer zones. This earlier planting reflects our short summers and will ensure you have beautiful blooms during our short growing season!
- Unlike many schedules, we include a number of perennials, especially those hardy in zones 2-4. We also include some poisonous and “known narcotic” plants, appropriately identified. Please use your own judgment with these, especially if you have pets!
- Live in a different region or zone? You can easily use our schedule by adjusting dates for your last frost date. We did a lot of this hard work for you! Our schedule should be appropriate for most extreme northern climates when adjusted for last frost.
2024 Weeks To Last Frost Schedule For Interior Alaska
These are the 2024 dates, based on the weeks before last frost. Adding or subtracting a few days will not make a huge difference, so plant when it’s convenient for you.
This schedule is geared towards USDA zones 2A through 4B. Live in a different USDA zone in Alaska? Here’s your planting date corrections!
Vegetable schedule | Flower schedule
| Weeks To Last Frost: | Date: |
|---|---|
| 12 Weeks To Last Frost: | 3/9/2024 |
| 11 Weeks To Last Frost: | 3/16/2024 |
| 10 Weeks To Last Frost: | 3/23/2024 |
| 9 Weeks To Last Frost: | 3/30/2024 |
| 8 Weeks To Last Frost: | 4/6/2024 |
| 7 Weeks To Last Frost: | 4/13/2024 |
| 6 Weeks To Last Frost: | 4/20/2024 |
| 5 Weeks To Last Frost: | 4/27/2024 |
| 4 Weeks To Last Frost: | 5/4/2024 |
| 3 Weeks To Last Frost: | 5/11/2024 |
| 2 Weeks To Last Frost: | 5/18/2024 |
| 1 Weeks To Last Frost: | 5/25/2024 |
| 0 Weeks To Last Frost: | 6/1/2024 |
| +1 Weeks From Last Frost: | 6/8/2024 |
| +2 Weeks From Last Frost: | 6/15/2024 |
Vegetable & Herb Planting Schedule For Interior Alaska
Flower schedule | Date Schedule
| Vegetable: | Method: | Weeks To Last Frost: | Notes: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garlic | Fall Sow | See notes | Cold hardy. Plant garlic 2 weeks before or up to first frost. Typically late August to mid-September. Hardneck varieties only. Cover bed with mulch for best overwintering results. |
| Asparagus, Seed | Start Indoors | 12 | Cold hardy. Can perennialize down to zone 3. Soaking seeds overnight recommended. Asparagus crowns can be used to bypass early planting requirement. If using crowns, direct sow as soon as soil is workable. |
| Celeriac | Start Indoors | 10-12 | Frost tolerant. |
| Celery | Start Indoors | 10-12 | Frost tolerant. |
| Onion, Seed | Start Indoors | 10-12 | Growing guide. Cold hardy. Using onion sets are an alternative technique to bypass early planting requirements. Use long day varieties only. |
| Rosemary | Start Indoors | 10-12 | Can be challenging to grow from seed. Recommend growing in containers & overwintering indoors for perennial rosemary. |
| Shallot | Start Indoors | 10-12 | Growing guide. Shallots are a preferred target of onion flies (a variety of root maggot), prevalent even in subarctic climates. If growing them, protection of ALL allium crops with hoop nets is strongly advised! |
| Leek | Start Indoors | 8-10 | Cold hardy. Leeks run little risk of flowering during the short subarctic season. Seeds can be planted up to 12 weeks to last frost. |
| Mint | Start Indoors | 8-10 | Invasive. Containers or other dedicated space recommended for final planting. Some varieties can perennialize down to zone 3 or 4. For zone 3 perennialization, we recommend strong thermal mass, such as near a home or other heat sources. |
| Onion, Green | Start Indoors | 8-10 | For a succession crop, continue planting every 1-2 weeks up to about 4 weeks before last frost. Some varieties can perennialize down to zone 2! (e.g. allium fistulosum) |
| Cardoon | Start Indoors | 8-9 | Frost tolerant. Prolific grower and easier to grow than artichoke. |
| Artichoke | Start Indoors | 8-9 | Growing guide. Frost tolerant. Choose a variety that can be grown as an annual. Imperial Star and Green Globe are good varieties for Interior Alaska. |
| Eggplant | Start Indoors | 8-9 | Not all varieties are tolerant to Alaska. Patio Baby is a great variety to start with. Does well in containers and grown outdoors in Interior Alaska in most summers. |
| Chives | Start Indoors | 8-9 | Cold hardy. Can perennialize down to zone 2. |
| Fennel, Bulb | Start Indoors | 8-9 | Leaf fennel features a different schedule, see 4-6 weeks before last frost. |
| Sage | Start Indoors | 7-8 | |
| Peppers | Start Indoors | 7-8 | Growing guide. Cold sensitive. Transplant outdoors 1-2 weeks after last frost. If going into a greenhouse, can be started 9-12 weeks before last frost. Greenhouse should have no frost danger (heated) to transplant earlier than last frost. If you intend to top your plant, start 2-3 weeks before recommended dates. Choose varieties with sub-100 day maturity, preferably 75 days or less. |
| Anise | Start Indoors | 6-8 | |
| Borage | Start Indoors | 6-8 | Can also be grown for flowers. |
| Brussels Sprouts | Start Indoors | 6-8 | Growing guide. Cold hardy. Choose varieties with maturity dates of 125 days or less in subarctic climates. For best results, top plant August 1st and remove several leaves from bottom to top every few weeks. |
| Catnip | Start Indoors | 6-8 | Frost tolerant. Tendency to flower early due to subarctic photoperiodism. Harvest before major flowers develop for best results. Great pollinator attractor after flowering. |
| Cat Grass | Start Indoors | 6-8 | Can grow in a small pot for your kitties! Helps to keep cats away from garden starts. If your cats like it, cat grass can be grown all year with residual or supplemental light. |
| Cumin | Start Indoors | 6-8 | |
| Collards | Start Indoors | 6-8 | Cold hardy. |
| Ground Cherries | Start Indoors | 6-8 | Can generally follow tomato growing guide for general nightshade advice. Greenhouse ground cherries can be planted 8-10 weeks before last frost and put in greenhouse mid-May. |
| Huckleberry, Garden | Start Indoors | 6-8 | Can generally follow tomato growing guide for general nightshade advice. |
| Lemon Balm | Start Indoors | 6-8 | Can be invasive similar to mint. Planting in dedicated space or containers recommended. Perennial down to zone 3. |
| Radicchio | Start Indoors | 6-8 | Frost tolerant. |
| Stevia | Start Indoors | 6-8 | |
| Tomatoes | Start Indoors | 6-8 | Growing guide. Greenhouse tomatoes can be planted 8-10 weeks before last frost and put in greenhouse mid-May. If you are very limited on space, 5 weeks to last frost is advised. Choose varieties with sub-100 day maturity, preferably 75 days or less. Seek cold climate varieties. |
| Tomatillo | Start Indoors | 6-8 | Can generally follow tomato growing guide for nightshade advice. Greenhouse tomatillos can be planted 8-10 weeks before last frost and put in greenhouse mid-May. If you are very limited on space, 5 weeks to last frost is advised. |
| Broccoli | Start Indoors | 4-7 | Cold hardy. For succession crop, choose early, mid and late varieties. All will reach full maturity in subarctic climates. Can also succession plant. |
| Chamomile | Start Indoors | 6-7 | Prolific subarctic producer. Can produce several harvests over the season. |
| Cilantro | Start Indoors | 6-7 | Growing guide. Quick to bolt. Of all varieties we've tested, Calyspo cilantro is the most bolt resistant we've found. Coriander production in Alaska is marginal, any variety that isn't bolt resistant will do. If growing for coriander only, seeding earlier would be beneficial. We'd recommend 8-10 weeks before last frost. |
| Marjoram | Start Indoors | 6-7 | Tends to flower very early due to subarctic photoperiodism. Keep an eye on it & harvest prior to major flowering. For increased harvest, grow more plants. |
| Oregano | Start Indoors | 6-7 | Tends to flower early due to subarctic photoperiodism, keep an eye on it and harvest before major blooming. For increased harvest, grow more plants. |
| Parsley | Start Indoors | 6-7 | |
| Seasoning Celery | Start Indoors | 6-7 | Note, this is NOT celery. Seasoning celery is an herb that grows like parsley, but with intense celery flavor. |
| Tarragon | Start Indoors | 6-7 | |
| Thyme | Start Indoors | 6-7 | Harvest once flowers start to emerge, typically in early to mid August. |
| Kale | Start Indoors | 5-6 | Cold hardy. |
| Lovage | Start Indoors | 5-6 | Can perennialize down to zone 3. Herb, tastes sort of like celery. |
| Strawberry Spinich | Start Indoors | 5-6 | Can reseed itself & grow year after year. |
| Arugula | Start Indoors | 4-6 | Cold hardy. Can also direct sow 2-3 weeks before last frost. For a late harvest, direct sow early to mid-August. |
| Cauliflower | Start Indoors | 4-6 | Frost tolerant. |
| Chervil | Start Indoors | 4-6 | Also called French parsley. Anthriscus cerefolium. |
| Endive | Start Indoors | 4-6 | Cold hardy. |
| Fennel, Leaf | Start Indoors | 4-6 | For bulb fennel, see the alternate schedule around 8-9 weeks to last frost. |
| Kohlrabi | Start Indoors | 4-6 | Cold hardy. |
| Komatsuna | Start Indoors | 4-6 | Cold hardy. Also known as spinach mustard, but is technically a brassica. |
| Lettuce, Head | Start Indoors | 4-6 | Cold hardy. |
| Okra | Start Indoors | 4-6 | Northern varieties such as Jambalaya are strongly recommended. Warm soil only. Greenhouse & container planting strongly advised. Transplant into greenhouse 1-2 weeks after last frost. Challenging & marginal harvest in subarctic. |
| Purslane, Garden | Start Indoors | 4-6 | |
| Shisho | Start Indoors | 4-6 | Also known as beefsteak or perilla. Can self-seed if allowed to flower. |
| Sorrel | Start Indoors | 4-6 | Cold hardy. Can also direct sow at last frost or later. Best young, plant successively for multiple harvests. Rumex acetosa (English variety) can perrenialize down to zone 4. |
| Spinach, Malabar | Start Indoors | 4-6 | |
| Basil | Start Indoors | 4-5 | |
| Cabbage | Start Indoors | 4-5 | Cold hardy. |
| Corn | Start Indoors | 4-5 | Indoor sowing strongly advised. Sow into 3.5" or larger pots if possible. Warm soil & container planting preferred. Legend, Cafe and Espresso varieties are top producers in the subarctic. |
| Corn Salad | Start Indoors | 4-5 | Cold hardy. Also known as Lamb's Lettuce and Mâche. Valerianella locusta. Can also direct sow, typical 50 day crop. Freezes well. For fall, sow late July to early August. |
| Dill | Start Indoors | 4-5 | If pickling is your primary goal, there's wisdom to starting dill later. (Even as late as a direct sow.) Dill can produce greens in about 4 to 6 weeks from seed. If flowering is your goal, our suggested dates will produce flowers by late season. |
| Lettuce, Leaf | Start Indoors | 4-5 | Cold hardy. |
| Melon, Early | Start Indoors | 4-5 | Melons are a highly marginal crop in Alaska and have a high chance of crop failure. Greenhouse conditions and pollination by hand is most ideal. Cold climate varieties, such as Minnesota Midget, are recommended as a starting point. |
| Mustard Greens | Start Indoors | 4-5 | Cold hardy. Can also direct sow 2-3 weeks before last frost. Bolts in temperatures higher than 80F. For a late season harvest, plant early to mid-August. |
| Orach | Start Indoors | 4-5 | Cold hardy. Can also direct sow 2 weeks before last frost and up to 2 weeks after last frost. Bolt resistant alternative to spinach. |
| Squash, Summer | Start Indoors | 4-5 | Growing guide. Frost sensitive. Grows fast & large. Delay sowing if limited by indoor growing space. Recommend sowing in 3.5" pot or larger. |
| Squash, Winter | Start Indoors | 4-5 | Growing guide. Frost sensitive. Grows fast & large. Delay sowing if limited by indoor growing space. Recommend sowing in 3.5" pot or larger. |
| Pumpkins | Start Indoors | 4-5 | Growing guide. Frost sensitive. Grows fast & large. Delay sowing if limited by indoor growing space. Recommend sowing in 3.5" pot or larger. |
| Zucchini | Start Indoors | 4-5 | Frost sensitive. Grows fast & large. Delay sowing if limited by indoor growing space. Recommend sowing in 3.5" pot or larger. |
| Bok Choy | Start Indoors | 4-5 | Frost tolerant. |
| Chinese Cabbage | Start Indoors | 4-5 | Frost tolerant. More prone to cabbage worm than common cabbage. Watch crops carefully, especially when grown near other cabbage. |
| Spinach | Sow Indoors | 3-6 | Cold hardy. Doesn’t always transplant well. Can also direct sow outdoors 2 weeks before last frost. Usually bolts by late June. For a second harvest, plant again in early to mid-August. |
| Chard, Swiss | Start Indoors | 3-5 | Cold hardy. |
| Cucumber | Start Indoors | 3-4 | Frost sensitive. Grows fast & large. Delay sowing if limited by indoor growing space. Greenhouse cucumbers can be planted 5-6 weeks before last frost and moved to greenhouse mid-May Several parthenocarpic varieties do well in cooler climates and are valuable for subarctic greenhouse growing. |
| Beets | Direct sow | 0-2 | Cold Hardy. |
| Carrot | Direct sow | 0-2 | Cold hardy. |
| Horseradish, Cutting & Plant | Direct sow | 0-2 | Cold hardy. Can perennialize down to zone 3. Soak root cutting for 24 hours prior to planting. Nursery grown starts often available. Can be grown from seed, but low germination rates tend to make cuttings or finished starts more favorable & successful. |
| Mustard, Chinese Bald Head | Direct sow | 0-2 | Cold hardy. |
| Onion, Set | Direct sow | 0-2 | Growing guide. Cold hardy. Onion sets work well in interior Alaska. If growing from seed, start 10-12 weeks before last frost. Use long day varieties only. |
| Parsnip | Direct sow | 0-2 | Cold hardy. |
| Peas | Direct sow | 0-2 | Frost tolerant. |
| Potatoes | Direct sow | 0-2 | Growing guide. Cold hardy. |
| Radish | Direct sow | 0-2 | Frost tolerant. Also heat sensitive. Does well mid-to-late May up to late June. A late season crop can be achieved by planting early-to-mid August up to hard frost. |
| Rutabaga | Direct sow | 0-2 | Cold hardy. |
| Strawberry | Direct sow, bare root | 0-2 | Cold hardy. Recommend buying bare root. Starting from seed is possible, but an advanced technique. Toklat is the strongest subarctic variety we've found. Covering beds with mulch for winter is recommended. |
| Turnip | Direct Sow | 0-2 | Cold hardy. |
| Beans, Bush | Direct sow | +0-2 | Sow when frost danger has passed. You can also sow indoors, 3 weeks to last frost and transplant outdoors after danger of frost. |
| Beans, Pole | Direct sow | +0-2 | Sow when frost danger has passed. You can also sow indoors, 3 weeks to last frost and transplant outdoors after danger of frost. |
Flower Planting Schedule For Interior Alaska
Vegetable schedule | Date Schedule
| Flowers: | Method: | Weeks To Last Frost: | Notes: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geranium | Start Indoors | 12 | Can be overwintered indoors. |
| Begonia, Tubers | Start Indoors | 11-12 | Can be overwintered indoors. If harvesting tubers, do so before first frost. |
| Begonia, Wax | Start Indoors | 11-12 | Can be overwintered indoors. If harvesting tubers, do so before first frost. |
| Datura (Devil or Angel Trumpet) | Start Indoors | 10-12 | Warning, highly poisonous! |
| Digitalis (Foxglove) | Start Indoors | 10-12 | Can perennialize down to zone 3. We've experienced troubles in zone 3, not so sure. |
| Eucalyptus | Start Indoors | 10-12 | |
| Heliotrope | Start Indoors | 10-12 | Warning, poisonous! Can take up to 30-40 days to germinate. Sometimes called "Cherry Pie". |
| Hollyhock | Start Indoors | 10-12 | Biennial, supposedly to zone 2. We've never been successful, even in zone 3. Can grow as an annual. If you experience low germination, cold stratify in refrigerator for 2-4 weeks prior to sowing. |
| Lavender | Start Indoors | 10-12 | Not recommended below zone 5a, but can overwinter in containers in colder zones. First year blooms are usually unremarkable. Cold stratification for 3-6 weeks in fridge advised. Light required for germination. |
| Vinca | Start Indoors | 10-12 | |
| Rhodochiton | Start Indoors | 10-11 | |
| Salvia | Start Indoors | 10-11 | |
| Portulaca | Start Indoors | 10 | |
| Ranunculus | Start Indoors | 10 | |
| Daisy, Shasta | Start Indoors | 9-10 | |
| Dusty Miller | Start Indoors | 9-10 | |
| Lobelia | Start Indoors | 9-10 | If you experience germination issues, seeds can benefit from 4 weeks of cold stratification in refrigerator. |
| Coleus | Start Indoors | 8-10 | |
| Delphinium | Start Indoors | 8-10 | Cold stratification recommended. Can perennialize down to zone 3. |
| Echinacea (Purple Coneflower) | Start Indoors | 8-10 | Can perennialize down to zone 3. Can also direct sow in fall. If sowing indoors, for best germination, sow into small containers and keep in fridge for 4 weeks. Then germinate under light. |
| Gaillardia (Blanket Flower) | Start Indoors | 8-10 | Some varieties can perennialize down to zone 3. |
| Petunia | Start Indoors | 8-10 | |
| Sempervivum (Hens & Chicks) | Start Indoors | 8-10 | Can perennialize to zone 3. Requires light to germinate, some varieties require cold stratification, so check your seed packets. Likes sandy seedling mixes. |
| Althea Zebium | Start Indoors | 9 | |
| Lupine | Start Indoors | 9 | Cold hardy. Can perennialize down to zone 3. Cold stratification of seeds for a week, then soak overnight, prior to sowing. |
| Gazania | Start Indoors | 9 | |
| Nemesia | Start Indoors | 8-9 | |
| Pansy | Start Indoors | 8-9 | Technically, Pansy & Viola are the same thing, but we've accidentally forgotten to plant one or the other despite knowing this! |
| Viola | Start Indoors | 8-9 | Technically, Pansy & Viola are the same thing, but we've accidentally forgotten to plant one or the other despite knowing this! |
| Asperula | Start Indoors | 8 | |
| Impatiens (Balsam, Touch-Me-Not) | Start Indoors | 8 | |
| Kochia | Start Indoors | 8 | |
| Malope | Start Indoors | 8 | |
| Milkweed, Butterfly | Start Indoors | 8 | Can perennialize down to zone 3. Stratification of seeds in freezer for 30 days recommended. |
| Milkweed, Swamp | Start Indoors | 8 | Can perennialize down to zone 3. Stratification of seeds in freezer for 30 days recommended. |
| Milkweed, Showy | Start Indoors | 8 | Can perennialize down to zone 3. Stratification of seeds in freezer for 30 days recommended. |
| Statice | Start Indoors | 8 | |
| Sweet William | Start Indoors | 8 | |
| Bells of Ireland | Start Indoors | 7-8 | |
| Calendula | Start Indoors | 7-8 | |
| Cannabis | Start Indoors | 7-8 | Warning, known narcotic, AKA "weed." Sensitive to photoperiodism and will not flower properly at extreme northern latitudes. Sativa dominant varieties should be sown ~12 weeks to last frost, whereas Indica dominant varieties can follow this schedule. Greenhouse recommended. Use blackout cover to provide ~12 hours of darkness during flowering period, if possible. To avoid these complications from photoperiodism, autoflowering strains are a viable alternative and are generally recommended in northern growing applications. Recommend staying within Alaska plant count guidelines, or guidelines appropriate for your location. |
| Cosmos | Start Indoors | 7-8 | If you have germination issues, try to cold stratify your seeds for 1-2 weeks in refrigerator prior to sowing. |
| Daisy, English | Start Indoors | 7-8 | |
| Dianthus | Start Indoors | 7-8 | Frost tolerant. Carnation is a common variety in this genus. Early seeding allows flowering as annual. Some dianthus varieties can perennialize down to zone 3. |
| Feverfew | Start Indoors | 7-8 | Some varieties are called Chrysanthemum, which are edible (herb-like) Feverfew. |
| Lychnis | Start Indoors | 7-8 | Can perennialize down to zone 3. |
| Mallow | Start Indoors | 7-8 | |
| Malva | Start Indoors | 7-8 | |
| Nicotiana | Start Indoors | 7-8 | Caution, mildly toxic. Technically a tobacco plant, but often grown for flowers. |
| Nigella | Start Indoors | 7-8 | Also called Love In A Mist. Can be planted up to 6 weeks before last frost for late season blooms. |
| Snapdragon | Start Indoors | 7-8 | |
| Straw Flowers | Start Indoors | 7-8 | |
| Verbena | Start Indoors | 7-8 | |
| Artemisia | Start Indoors | 6-8 | Many varieties. Check seed packet for specific instructions. Some varieties can perennialize down to zone 3. |
| Balloon Flower | Start Indoors | 6-8 | Some varieties can perennialize down to zone 3. Cold stratify seeds 2-4 weeks prior to sowing. |
| Canterbury Bells (Cups & Saucers) | Start Indoors | 6-8 | Requires light to germinate. Hardy and biennial to zone 5. |
| Coreopsis | Start Indoors | 6-8 | |
| Daisy, Livingstone | Start Indoors | 6-8 | Also known as Dorotheanthus Bellidiformis. |
| Craspedia (Drumstick Flower) | Start Indoors | 6-8 | |
| Four O'Clocks (Mirabilis jalapa) | Start Indoors | 6-8 | Soak seeds overnight for best results. Can be treated like a Dahlia by digging up and replanting tuber between seasons. |
| Gomphrena | Start Indoors | 6-8 | |
| Ornamental Grass | Start Indoors | 6-8 | Timeframe would cover most ornamental grasses. Double check seed packet for variety specific instructions. |
| Sanvitalia (Creeping Zinnia) | Start Indoors | 6-8 | |
| Stock | Start Indoors | 6-8 | |
| Tansy (Tanacetum Vulgare) | Start Indoors | 6-8 | Can perennialize down to zone 3. Stratification of seeds in freezer for 30 days recommended. Requires 15-30 days for germination. |
| Thunbergia (Black Eyed Susan Vine) | Start Indoors | 6-8 | Cold stratify for 2-4 weeks in refrigerator prior to sowing. |
| Vera (English) Lavender | Start Indoors | 6-8 | |
| Aster | Start Indoors | 6-7 | Worth considering 8-9 weeks before last frost, since most are 100 day blooms. Some varieties require cold stratification 2-4 weeks in refrigerator. Check seed packet to be sure. |
| Chinese Lantern | Start Indoors | 6-7 | Warning, invasive & poisonous! Requires light to germinate. Can perennialize down to zone 3. If you experience germination troubles, cold stratify seeds in refrigerator for 2 weeks and soak 24 hours before sowing. |
| Dahlia Tubers | Start Indoors | 6-7 | Dahlia can be maintained as a subarctic perennial by digging up the tubers and replanting every year. |
| Dahlia, Seed | Start Indoors | 6-7 | Seeded dahlias can be genetically unstable. Tubers provide better, more stable results for specific varieties. From seed allows you to select for preferred genetics. |
| Daisy, African | Start Indoors | 6-7 | |
| Gladiola Corms | Start Indoors | 6-7 | |
| Godetia | Start Indoors | 6-7 | |
| Lace Flower (Trachymene coerulea) | Start Indoors | 6-7 | Does not transplant well. But, due to 100 day blooming, must be sowed indoors. Expect blooms 12-14 weeks after sowing. |
| Layia | Start Indoors | 6-7 | |
| Phlox | Start Indoors | 6-7 | Frost tolerant. |
| Schizanthus (Butterfly Flower) | Start Indoors | 6-7 | |
| Honeywort (Cerinthe) | Start Indoors | 6 | Soak seeds overnight for best results. |
| Lavatera | Start Indoors | 6 | |
| Linaria | Start Indoors | 6 | |
| Marigold | Start Indoors | 6 | |
| Poppy, Oriental | Start Indoors | 6 | Cold stratify seeds 2-4 weeks in refrigerator prior to sowing. |
| Poppy, Typical | Start Indoors | 6 | Cold stratify seeds 2-4 weeks in refrigerator prior to sowing. |
| Wallflower, Siberian | Start Indoors | 6 | Can perennialize down to zone 3. Biennial. |
| Agastache | Start Indoors | 5-6 | Sometimes called Korean mint, hyssop or Texas Hummingbird Mint. Some (rare) varieties can perennialize to zones 3 and 4, most are 5+. |
| Ageratum (Floss Flower) | Start Indoors | 5-6 | |
| Alaska Cut Mix | Start Indoors | 5-6 | Common mix found in Alaska nurseries |
| Baby's Breath | Start Indoors | 5-6 | |
| Butterfly Pea | Start Indoors | 5-6 | Scarify seeds, then soak overnight prior to planting. Needs trellis. |
| Candy Tuft | Start Indoors | 5-6 | |
| Clarkia | Start Indoors | 5-6 | |
| Gilia Globe | Start Indoors | 5-6 | Drought tolerant. Pollinator attractor. |
| Iceplant | Start Indoors | 5-6 | Some varieties can perennialize down to zone 4. Check seed packet for specific instructions. |
| Larkspur | Start Indoors | 5-6 | Warning, poisonous! Follow seed packet instructions. Cold stratification in refrigerator for 2 weeks recommended. Doesn't germinate above 55F, sow in refrigerator or in very early spring. |
| Morning Glory | Start Indoors | 5-6 | |
| Primrose | Start Indoors | 5-6 | Cold stratify seeds for 2-4 weeks in refrigerator. Needs light to germinate. |
| Rudbeckia | Start Indoors | 5-6 | |
| Salpiglossis | Start Indoors | 5-6 | |
| Scabiosa (Pincushion) | Start Indoors | 5-6 | Cold stratify seeds for 2 weeks in refridgerator for improved germination. |
| Sweet Pea | Start Indoors | 5-6 | Frost tolerant. Needs trellis. |
| Ursinia | Start Indoors | 5-6 | |
| Yarrow | Start Indoors | 5-6 | Can perennialize down to zone 3. Growing color yarrow can influence the color of (commonly white) wild yarrow. |
| Zinnia | Start Indoors | 5-6 | |
| Agrostemma (Corn Cockle) | Start Indoors | 4-5 | Some varieties are planted earlier. Check your seed packet for variety specific instructions. |
| Amaranth | Start Indoors | 4-5 | Love Lies Bleeding is a popular garden Amaranth. |
| Celosia | Start Indoors | 4-5 | |
| Cockscomb | Start Indoors | 4-5 | |
| Columbine | Start Indoors | 4-5 | Toxic to humans & pets. Requires soil temps between 45F-60F for germination. Cold stratify seeds for 2-4 weeks in refrigerator. |
| Elecampane | Start Indoors | 4-5 | Requires light to germinate. Can perrenialize to zone 3. Alternate names include Inula, British Yellowhead, Irish Fleabane, Marchalan, and Horseheal. |
| Nasturtium | Start Indoors | 4-5 | Can also be direct sowed 1-2 weeks before last frost. For very early blooms, can be started up to 8 weeks before last frost. |
| Sunflower | Start Indoors | 4 | |
| Centaurea (Bachelor Buttons) | Start Indoors | 3-5 | Early planting, early blooms. Can also be direct sowed at last frost |
| Canary Bird Vine | Start Indoors | 3-4 | |
| Lion's Ear (Klip Dagga) | Start Indoors | 3-4 | Warning, mild narcotic. Sometimes called "wild cannabis." It can grow 8-10 feet tall in a single season. Tendency to self-seed. |
| Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) | Start indoors | 3-4 | Can perennialize down to zone 3. Stratification of seeds in freezer for 30 days recommended. Roots and leaves are edible. |
| Mignoette | Start Indoors | 3-4 | |
| Nemophila | Start Indoors | 3-4 | |
| Poppy, California | Direct Sow | 3-4 | Can also direct sow after last frost. |
| Alyssum, Sweet | Start Indoors | 3-4 | |
| Forget Me Not | Start Indoors | 3-4 | The Alaska State flower! Can also be direct sowed around last frost. |
That’s All We Wrote!
Having a good time? We have an ever growing list of insightful and helpful subarctic & cold climate gardening articles, waiting out there for you!
- Cold Climate Gardening Basics 👉
- Growing Your Garden From Seed Indoors 👉
- Advanced Cold Climate Gardening Techniques 👉
- Plant Specific Cold Climate Growing Guides 👉
- Subarctic Perennial Food Forests & Foraging 👉
- Indoor Garden Lighting & Grow Rooms 👉
- Greenhouses & Temperature Control 👉
- Harvesting & Food Preservation 👉
- Solving Cold Climate Garden Problems 👉
- 1 Minute Reads On Tons Of Garden Topics 👉
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This is exactly what I have been looking for! I live in Juneau and over the last couple of years I have taken a fancy to gardening. When I first started I thought it was just as simple as planting any type of seeds in the ground and (poof) it would grow. Which a lot of things did grow at first but come the middle of September when it started getting cold and my carrots were the size of a barbie carrot or my pea plant only had 10 peas the whole season I quickly realized that there was a lot more to it than that. Now I am also a single mom so as much as I love getting my hands dirty in the garden I simply don’t have the time to learn when I should plant what and it’s been a chore trying to find that info-rmation out for my area. That is, until I found this site and your guide for planting. Thank you so much for doing all this work so someone like me can simply go right to getting her hands dirty. Happy growing season!!
Glad you found us, Mary! We’ve got a ton of information and it continues to grow every year! Our goal is exactly that, to help other growers “short circuit” the learning process as much as possible! We also post a ton of helpful information to our Facebook page, but if you’re not on there, we’ve started replicating all those posts to our “Blog” section. Thanks for checking us out and we hope you continue to enjoy our content!