Category: Alaska Garden Climate Zones

Getting Warmer? North Anchorage Garden Climactic Zone

MarahG

Gardening in North Anchorage Every spring I feel a hint of jealousy when my mother describes the new growth in her garden.  She lives in New York state where she enjoys a longer frost-free period and Zone 6a hardiness. Just like any northern climate, gardening in Anchorage has challenges. However, with careful site and plant selection, by the end of summer it’s not too hard to have an abundant garden that makes even a New York mother envious. Between the moderating effect of Cook Inlet’s water and the steep rise Read More …

Farming in the Rain: Sitka, Alaska

jdhandy

Sitka’s climate Gardening in Sitka’s climate presents several challenges. I would have to say too much rain and a lack of sunlight would have to be at the top of the list. We get a lot of rain in Sitka, some growing seasons more than others. Overcast days are plentiful throughout the growing season as well. Overcast days help to give plants a chance to recover after a stretch of constant rain. It’s important to give the soil a chance to dry out and become more stable and easier to Read More …

Homer–an Alaska Climate Profile

lldevita

Homer is on the southwestern edge of the Kenai Peninsula on the north side of the Kachemak Bay. The weather is effected by the close proximity to the Gulf of Alaska and other large bodes of water nearby. In the Homer area the summers are cool and moist, with relatively mild winters. It rains lightly throughout much of the season interspersed with some weeks of sun, so watering may only be needed occasionally. The probable growing season is from June to mid September. Reliably there are 113 frost free days, Read More …

Sitka, Alaska’s Climactic Zone

cmsanchez2

Sitka, Alaska is a part of the The Tongass National Forest- the largest temperate rainforest in the world. Cool days, frequent rain, and acidic soil that has a hi are factors to consider when gardening. Hardy crops thrive in Sitka as show by native, woody edible plants that fruit throughout the year: blueberries, crowberries, low bush cranberries. Hardy plants thrive. Tlingit and Haida potatoes have been planted and harvested for over 200 years in Sitka. You can read more about this history here Normals for years: 1981-2010 USDA Plant Hardiness Read More …

Girdwood, Alaska – A Climate Profile

ggphillips

Girdwood Girdwood is a small community located 48 miles southeast of downtown Anchorage. Because Girdwood is located in a temperate rainforest, its summers are often overcast, cool and the ground is wet year round. The annual temperature usually varies between 16 to 64 °F but sometimes dip below -9 °F or rise above 72 °F. The record low was -30 °F (January 1989) and the record high was 88 °F (July 1972). A gardener can expect a typical growing season of approximately 4 to 4.5 months. In a really exceptional Read More …