Blog

When to Plant Peppers in Juneau City and Borough, AK

Juneau City and Borough, Alaska Zone 7a May

May in Juneau City and Borough, Alaska — your action list

Welcome to May in Zone 7a. These are the moves that will have the biggest impact on your growing season.

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. Time to transplant peppers

    Plant tomatoes deep — bury the stem up to the first true leaves to grow extra roots. Everything else goes in at the same depth it grew in the tray.

  2. Outdoor sowing time: peppers

    Thin ruthlessly once seedlings are up. Crowded roots mean smaller crops from every plant.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Sweet peppers are warm-season crops producing fruits in a rainbow of colors. They turn from green to red, yellow, or orange as they ripen, increasing in sweetness.

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 Peppers 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 (10 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 23 Transplant: May 11 🍅 Harvest: Jul 13 – Sep 21
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (5 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 1 Transplant: May 17 🍅 Harvest: Jul 19 – Sep 27
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (12 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 15 Transplant: May 31 🍅 Harvest: Aug 2 – Oct 11

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 Peppers's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.1–6.5) is more acidic than Peppers 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 Peppers — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

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

How to Plant Peppers

1"
Planting Depth
15"
Between Plants
24"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Peppers

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
1.1″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 150 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Peppers

Peppers needs approximately 1.1 inches of water per week (4.8" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Peppers Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 1.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.8" 1.6" 3.2" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 4.8" 3.1" 1.7" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.8" 4.4" 0.4" 💧 Light watering
Aug 4.8" 5.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.8" 6.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.8" 4.1" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
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.

Peppers 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.

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

Peppers Planting Timeline — Juneau City and Borough, AK

Peppers Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 1 Mar 1 – Mar 15
Transplant Outdoors May 17 May 17 – May 31
Direct Sow May 10 May 10 – May 31
Harvest July 19 Jul 19 – Sep 27

Plant 1" deep · 15" apart · Rows 24" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1.1"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 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 Peppers in Juneau City and Borough

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

Common pests for Peppers in this region include tomato hornworm and aphids. Use row covers early in the season and inspect plants weekly.

General growing tips

Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant when nighttime temperatures stay above 55F. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers which promote leaves over fruit.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Fennel
  • Kohlrabi

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

🌾 Save Your Own Peppers Seeds
Life Cycle Annual
Pollination Self-Pollinating
How to Collect Remove seeds from fully ripe (red/orange) fruit.
Storage Store airtight; viable 4 years at 35°F, under 50% humidity.

Isolate 300 ft for purity. Hot and sweet peppers can cross-pollinate.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Juneau City and Borough is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of May 3. Plan your Peppers 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.

🌱

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.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

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.