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Planting Calendar for Big Lake, Matanuska-Susitna County, AK | Almanac.com
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Planting Calendar for Big Lake, AK

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The planting calendar below tells you when to plant in the SPRING and also plant in the FALL, based on your zip code or postal code.

Spring Planting Calendar

Our spring planting calendar starts with the very first dates that you can plant (based on the last spring frost). But if you've missed these dates, no worries! This is why we've added "last planting dates" to our spring calendar; this is meant to help new gardeners understand that if they missed the first spring planting window, they could still get crops in the ground.

In fact, many crops with short maturity times (such as radishes) can be succession planted all the way through the summer in northern areas. However, note that some cool-seasons crops such as kale and lettuce do not grow well in hot temperatures, which can cause bolting issues.  For some gardeners, especially in the South, a break to avoid summer heat is needed, but they can start once the heat has passed. 

The dates provided are based on the number of weeks before or after frost, so we can provide a unique calendar to every user in the country. Thus, several crops (especially similar crops) may appear to have the same date. Kale and lettuce, for example, or dates for starting seeds, like broccoli and cabbage. 

Fall Planting Calendar

When we say "fall," we really mean planting in summer in time for a fall harvest. Think of this as a second summer! It's easy to keep the crops going if you've already prepared the soil! 

Many crops that would be started indoors for a spring crop can just be plunked into the soil directly for a fall crop. Not only is the soil already warm but also there are less pests and it tends to be rainier so you don't need to water as often. Some fall vegetables need to be harvested by the first frost, but many are frost-tolerant and even taste better after a kiss of fall frost!

See each plant's individual Growing Guide for more specific planting, plant care, and harvesting information.

Specifically, on the charts, there are different columns labeled as follows:

  1. Start Seeds Indoors: When to sow seeds indoors to get an early start on the season.
  2. Plant Seedlings Outdoors: When to put small seedlings that you grew indoors (OR starter plants that you bought at a garden nursery) in the outdoor soil.
  3. Start Seeds Outdoors: When to plant seeds directly into the outdoor soil.
  4. Last Date to Plant: You may plant any time from the "start seeds" dates until this "last date." Don't wait any longer, or the crop won't have time to get to harvest before fall/winter frosts.

The "Moon Dates" indicate the best planting dates based on Moon phases. You can learn more about this age-old technique below.

When N/A appears in the chart, that starting method is typically not recommended, although it is likely still possible. 

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Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on June 2 (at WHITES CROSSING, AK climate station, elevation 269 feet).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds IndoorsPlant Seedlings
or Transplants
Start Seeds OutdoorsLast Date to Plant
ArugulaFrost Apr 7-21
Moon Apr 8-21
Frost May 12-26
Moon May 12-23
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 7-12
Aug 4
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost May 19-Jun 2
Moon May 24-Jun 2
Jun 2
BasilFrost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-23
Frost Jun 16-30
Moon Jun 16-21
Frost Jun 16-30
Moon Jun 16-21
Jul 21
BeetsN/AFrost May 19-Jun 2
Moon May 24-Jun 2
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 5-6
Jun 16
Bell PeppersFrost Mar 24-Apr 7
Moon Mar 24-25
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
N/AJun 9
Bok ChoyFrost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-23
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
Jul 14
BroccoliFrost Apr 7-21
Moon Apr 8-21
Frost May 19-Jun 2
Moon May 19-23
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 7-12
Jun 30
Brussels SproutsFrost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-23
Frost May 19-Jun 2
Moon May 19-23
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 7-12
May 26
CabbageFrost Apr 7-21
Moon Apr 8-21
Frost May 19-Jun 2
Moon May 19-23
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 7-12
May 19
CantaloupesFrost May 12-26
Moon May 12-23
Frost Jun 2-16
Moon Jun 6-16
Frost Jun 9-16
Moon Jun 9-16
May 26
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost May 5-19
Moon May 5-6
Jun 23
CauliflowerFrost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-23
Frost May 26-Jun 9
Moon Jun 6-9
N/AJun 23
CeleryFrost Mar 9-24
Frost Jun 9-23
Moon Jun 9-21
Frost Jun 2
Jun 23
ChivesFrost Apr 7-21
Moon Apr 8-21
Frost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Frost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Jul 7
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Jun 2-16
Moon Jun 6-16
Jun 23
CollardsFrost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-23
Frost May 19-Jun 2
Moon May 19-23
Frost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Jun 23
CucumbersFrost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Frost Jun 9-23
Moon Jun 9-21
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
Jun 23
DillN/AN/AFrost May 26-Jun 16
Moon Jun 6-16
Jul 7
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
May 26
EggplantsFrost Apr 7-21
Moon Apr 8-21
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
N/AJun 23
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost May 5-12
Moon May 7-12
Jun 16
FennelFrost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-23
Frost Jun 9-16
Moon Jun 9-16
Frost Jun 2-16
Moon Jun 6-16
Jun 16
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost Jun 9-30
Moon Jun 9-21
Jun 23
Honeydew MelonsFrost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
Jun 2
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Mar 24-Apr 7
Moon Mar 24-25
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
N/A
KaleFrost Apr 7-21
Moon Apr 8-21
Frost May 19-Jun 2
Moon May 19-23
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 7-12
Jun 16
KohlrabiFrost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-23
Frost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 7-12
Jun 16
LeeksFrost Mar 24-Apr 7
Moon Mar 24-25
Frost May 12-26
Moon May 12-23
N/AMay 19
LettuceFrost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-23
Frost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 7-12
Jun 16
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost May 5-19
Moon May 7-19
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
Frost Jun 16-30
Moon Jun 16-21
Jun 23
OnionsN/AFrost May 5-19
Moon May 5-6
N/AMay 26
OreganoFrost Mar 24-Apr 21
Moon Mar 24-25, Apr 8-21
Frost Jun 9-23
Moon Jun 9-21
N/AJun 23
ParsleyFrost Mar 24-Apr 7
Moon Mar 24-25
Frost Jun 9-23
Moon Jun 9-21
Frost May 5-Jun 9
Moon May 7-23
Jun 16
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost May 5-12
Moon May 5-6
May 26
PeasN/AN/AFrost May 5-12
Moon May 7-12
Jun 16
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost May 5-19
Moon May 5-6
Jun 23
PumpkinsFrost May 12-26
Moon May 12-23
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
May 19
RadishesN/AN/AFrost May 5-12
Moon May 5-6
Jul 7
RosemaryFrost Mar 9-24
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
N/AJul 7
SageFrost Apr 7-21
Moon Apr 8-21
Frost Jun 9-23
Moon Jun 9-21
N/AJun 16
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost May 5-19
Moon May 5-6
May 26
SpinachFrost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-23
Frost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Frost May 5-12
Moon May 7-12
Jun 16
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost Jun 16-30
Moon Jun 16-21
Jun 16
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Jun 16-30
Moon Jun 22-30
May 19
Swiss ChardFrost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-23
Frost May 19-Jun 2
Moon May 19-23
Frost May 12-Jun 2
Moon May 12-23
Jun 16
ThymeFrost Mar 24-Apr 7
Moon Mar 24-25
Frost Jun 9-16
Moon Jun 9-16
N/AJun 9
TomatillosFrost Apr 21-May 5
Moon Apr 21-23
Frost Jun 16-30
Moon Jun 16-21
N/AJun 16
TomatoesFrost Apr 7-21
Moon Apr 8-21
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
N/AJun 2
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost May 5-12
Moon May 5-6
Aug 4
WatermelonsFrost May 12-26
Moon May 12-23
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
Frost Jun 9-16
Moon Jun 9-16
Jun 2
Winter SquashFrost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Frost Jun 9-23
Moon Jun 9-21
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
May 12
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost May 12-19
Moon May 12-19
Frost Jun 9-23
Moon Jun 9-21
Frost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 16-21
Jun 30

Planting Dates for Fall

On average, your first fall frost occurs on September 1 (at WHITES CROSSING, AK climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Jul 14-Aug 18
Moon Jul 14-21, Aug 4-18
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Jun 9-Jul 7
Moon Jun 22-Jul 4
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Jun 23-Jul 14
Moon Jul 5-14
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Jun 2-9
Moon Jun 6-9
Frost Jun 23-Jul 7
Moon Jul 5-7
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost May 12-26
Moon May 12-23
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Jun 2-9
Moon Jun 6-9
Frost Jun 23-30
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Jun 16-23
Moon Jun 22-23
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost May 26-Jun 2
Frost Jun 9-16
Moon Jun 9-16
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Jun 9-Jul 7
Moon Jun 9-21, Jul 5-7
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Jun 2-16
Moon Jun 6-16
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Sep 15-29
Moon Sep 18-29
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Jun 16-30
Moon Jun 16-21
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Jun 23-Jul 7
Moon Jul 5-7
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Jun 30-Jul 21
Moon Jul 5-21
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Jun 23-Jul 7
Moon Jul 5-7
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Jun 30-Jul 21
Moon Jul 5-21
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Jun 23-Jul 7
Moon Jul 5-7
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Jul 21-Aug 4
Moon Jul 22-Aug 3
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Jul 14-Aug 4
Moon Jul 14-21, Aug 4
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Jun 23-Jul 7
Moon Jul 5-7
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Jun 30-Jul 14
Moon Jun 30-Jul 4
N/A50Frost-tolerant
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