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When to Plant Mint in Juneau City and Borough, AK

Juneau City and Borough, Alaska Zone 7a May

This month in Juneau City and Borough, Alaska

Each item below is timed to Juneau City and Borough, Alaska's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost May 3
Avg. first frost October 2
Soil temp (4") 65°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 16.5 hrs
  1. Get mint in the ground

    Frost risk is low now in Juneau City and Borough, Alaska. If you've been covering beds overnight, you can stop.

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Mint is a vigorous perennial herb with refreshing, aromatic leaves used in teas, cocktails, and cooking. It spreads aggressively by underground runners.

Juneau City and Borough, Alaska is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is May 3 and the first fall frost is October 2, giving you a growing season of approximately 152 days.

At an elevation of 930 feet, Juneau City and Borough receives approximately 35.8 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 57°F, so choose short-season varieties of Mint to ensure they mature before fall.

Juneau City and Borough, AK (Zone 7a) Moderate season
152 days
Last Spring Frost May 3
152 growing days
First Fall Frost October 2

Juneau City and Borough Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.1-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (17 days to spare)
Transplant: May 4 🍅 Harvest: Jul 6 – Sep 14
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (12 days to spare)
Transplant: May 10 🍅 Harvest: Jul 12 – Sep 20
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (19 days to spare)
Transplant: May 24 🍅 Harvest: Jul 26 – Oct 4

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Juneau City and Borough

How your county's soil matches Mint's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.1–6.5) is more acidic than Mint prefers (6.0–7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Juneau City and Borough is excellent for Mint — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (6.7%) — Mint will thrive.

How to Plant Mint

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Mint

2
successive plantings in your 152-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 04 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.7″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Mint

Mint needs approximately 0.7 inches of water per week (3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Mint Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 3" 1.6" 1.4" 💧 Light watering
Jun 3" 3.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 3" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 3" 5.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 3" 6.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 3" 4.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 2.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Oct in Juneau City and Borough). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Mint Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Mint needs ~0 GDD — county provides 0 GDD May not mature

Mint Planting Timeline — Juneau City and Borough, AK

Mint Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors May 10 May 10 – May 24
Harvest July 12 Jul 12 – Sep 20

Plant 0.5" deep · 8" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April
May Transplant Outdoors
June
July Harvest
August Harvest
September Harvest
October
November
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

💧 Water

0.7"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

152 days in Juneau City and Borough

Growing Tips for Mint in Juneau City and Borough

Direct sow Mint outdoors after May 03 in Juneau City and Borough when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

General growing tips

Always grow mint in containers or with underground barriers to control spreading. Harvest regularly to keep plants compact. Cut plants back in late summer for a fresh fall flush.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Parsley

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Mint in Juneau City and Borough, AK?

Juneau City and Borough is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of May 3. Plan your Mint planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Juneau City and Borough, AK?

Juneau City and Borough, Alaska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is May 3 and first fall frost is October 2.

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Your Juneau City and Borough Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Juneau City and Borough (Zone 7a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Juneau City and Borough, AK. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.