Alaska · zones 3a–8a
When to plant potatoes in Alaska.
Sow between Apr 4 to May 7 in a typical year, keyed to Alaska's median last frost around May 12. A second, fall sowing fits May 28 to Jun 10. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Potatoes dates for a typical Alaska season.
Direct sow
Apr 4 to May 7
Keyed to the ~May 12 last frost. Sow 4" deep, 12" apart.
Fall round
May 28 to Jun 10
Counted back from the ~Sep 15 first frost.
Harvest
~90 days later
~3 lb per plant over ~1 weeks.
Alaska spans more than one climate: Zone 3 is the most common zone, but the state runs 3a to 8a. That's why the planner works from your ZIP code's frost dates, not your zone: mountain and coastal gardens in the same state can be three weeks apart.
In Alaska: watch for
The pests that find potatoes here.
The short season here, about 126 frost-free days, keeps potato in front of colorado potato beetle only briefly. One early row cover usually carries a planting through the worst of it.
Striped beetles and orange grubs eating the leaves.
Organic fix: Handpick adults, crush the orange egg clusters, dust with diatomaceous earth.
Dark greasy blotches after cool, wet spells.
Organic fix: Pull infected plants fast, keep leaves dry, use neem as a preventive.
Common scab
Rough, corky patches on the skin, raised on some tubers and sunk into pits on others.
Organic fix: Keep the bed evenly moist through the weeks right after tubers set, rotate away from potatoes, and pick a scab-resistant variety next time.
Your season math: Alaska gives potatoes about 126 frost-free days, and it needs roughly 90 days to a first harvest. It's a one-planting crop, so time that single sowing well.
Planting potatoes in Alaska: questions
When should I plant potatoes in Alaska?+
In a typical Alaska year, sow potatoes between Apr 4 to May 7, keyed to the state's median last frost around May 12. There's also a fall window: May 28 to Jun 10. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
What USDA zone is Alaska?+
Alaska spans zones 3a–8a, mostly zone 3. But frost dates, not zones, set planting time. The free planner uses your ZIP code's actual frost dates.
How many potatoes plants do I need?+
Depends who you're feeding. The crop page has exact counts per household size, or the free planner does the math for your family in about 60 seconds.