Fall in zone 5aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 99611 (Nikiski, AK)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Kenai 29 ENE, AK (12 miles away).
- Average last spring frostJun 150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)94 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone5a-20 to -15°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
40°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 40°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Kenai 29 ENE, 12 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 41°, Fri 40°, Sat 40°.
4-inch depth
40°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 41°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Kenai 29 ENE, 12 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 41°, Fri 41°, Sat 40°.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 99611 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 40°F at 4 inches. Fall pre-emergent window is mostly past. Next: spring, when soil reaches 50°F (typically mid-April to early May).
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: North (cool-season). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | May 21 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jun 1 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 18 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Aug 21 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 8 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Sep 20 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | n/a | n/a |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jun 1 | Sep 8 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 14 | Sep 21 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 99611
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jun 1) and first fall frost (Sep 8). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 6–20 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 23–Apr 6 | Jun 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 23–Apr 6 | Jun 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Apr 6–20 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Apr 6–20 | May 11–Jun 1 (transplant) May 4–Jun 15 (sow outdoors) | Jul 14–Aug 4 (transplant) Jun 30–Jul 28 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 20–May 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 14–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Kale | Apr 6–20 | May 4–18 (transplant) May 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Jun 16–Jul 14 (transplant) Jun 2–30 (sowing) |
| Collards | Apr 6–20 | May 4–Jun 1 (transplant) May 4–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | Jun 16–Jul 14 (transplant) Jun 2–30 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 23–Apr 6 | May 4–18 (transplant) | Jun 2–30 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 23–Apr 6 | May 4–18 (transplant) | Jun 2–30 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 23–Apr 6 | May 18–Jun 1 (transplant) | Jun 2–30 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 9–23 | May 4–18 (transplant) | May 19–Jun 9 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 6–20 | May 4–18 (transplant) May 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Jun 30–Jul 14 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | May 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 14–28 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | May 4–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | Jul 14–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | May 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 14–28 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 20–May 4 | May 18–Jun 8 (transplant) May 18–Jun 15 (sow outdoors) | Jun 30–Jul 14 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | May 4–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | Jun 30–Jul 14 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 11–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | Jun 16–30 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 27–Jun 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | May 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Jun 30–Jul 14 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 11–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Apr 6–May 4 (sow outdoors) | Jun 16–30 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 9–23 | Apr 20–May 4 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 20–May 18 (sow outdoors) | Jun 30–Jul 14 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 9–23 | May 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Jul 28–Aug 25 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 20–May 4 (transplant) | Jul 28–Aug 25 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | May 4–18 (transplant) | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 22–Jul 6 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 22–Jul 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | May 4–11 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | May 4–11 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | May 4–11 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | May 4–11 | Jun 15–29 (transplant) Jun 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | May 4–11 | Jun 15–29 (transplant) Jun 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 20–May 4 | Jun 15–29 (transplant) Jun 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 9–23 | Jun 8–15 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 20–May 4 | Jun 8–22 (transplant) Jun 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 18–Jun 15 (sow outdoors) | Jul 14–28 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 23–Apr 6 | May 18–Jun 1 (transplant) May 11–Jun 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Jul 14–28 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jun 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | May 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | May 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | May 4–18 (transplant) | Jun 30–Jul 28 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Kenai 29 ENE, AK (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00026563), elevation 282 ft, 12.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenai 9N, AK | 23 mi | May 18 | Sep 22 |
| Sterling 6SW, AK | 25 mi | May 20 | Sep 21 |
| Kenai Muni AP, AK | 25 mi | May 24 | Sep 12 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 14 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 99611
When is the last frost in 99611?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 99611 is June 1. For a more cautious planting date, use June 18, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 99611?
The average first fall freeze is September 8. In 1 year in 10 it comes by August 21.
What hardiness zone is 99611?
ZIP 99611 is in USDA zone 5a (-20 to -15°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 99611 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
99672 Sterling 99682 Beluga 99502 Anchorage 99572 Cooper Landing 99515 Anchorage 99669 Kalifornsky 99530 Anchorage 99518 Anchorage
Other ZIP codes in Kenai Peninsula Borough
99556 99568 99572 99603 99605 99610 99631 99635 99639 99663 99664 99669 99672 99682 All Kenai Peninsula Borough frost dates · Alaska frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.