Which Hydrangeas Survive a Alaska Winter
Panicle hydrangeas (Hydrangea paniculata) and smooth hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens) are the ones that make it through an Alaska winter, because they…
Gardening in Alaska
Everything we have worked out for Alaska: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Anchorage, the last spring freeze runs May 3 to May 12 and the first fall freeze runs September 22 to October 1, USDA zones 1a-8a, 917 growing degree days in the year.
That is little accumulated warmth: tomatoes need a tunnel or a greenhouse here, whatever the frost dates suggest. Garlic does well: 34.8 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in Alaska: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
Roses That Hold Up in Alaska
The roses that hold up in Alaska are the ones bred for extreme cold and grown on their own roots, not grafted onto a rootstock from a milder climate.
When to Prune Roses in Alaska
The safe window for pruning roses in Alaska sits after the danger of hard freeze has passed but before canes push out tender new growth that a late cold…
Why Hydrangeas Are Pink in Alaska, and How to Turn Them Blue
Hydrangeas in Alaska stay pink because most soils here sit at a neutral to alkaline pH, which locks up the aluminum that flowers need to turn blue.
First and Last Frost Dates in Alaska
In Anchorage, the last spring frost typically falls between May 3 and May 12, and the first fall frost arrives between September 22 and October 1.
When to Prune Hydrangeas in Alaska
Prune most hydrangeas in Alaska in early spring, timed to the last frost window of May 3 to May 12 in Anchorage, cutting back new-wood bloomers just as…
Rose Diseases in Alaska: What the Climate Here Actually Brings
Alaska’s rose disease pressure comes down to cool, damp conditions rather than heat and humidity.
When to Pick Tomatoes in Alaska, and Ripening the Rest
The short answer: harvest before the season’s first hard frost hits, whichever exact date that turns out to be where you garden, and don’t wait for full…
When to Pick Apples in Alaska, and How Long They Keep
Alaska’s apple harvest follows the first fall frost, not a date on a calendar.
Does Insulation Keep a Home in Alaska Cool?
Yes, insulation matters in Alaska, but not for the reason it does in Phoenix or Houston.