Blog

When to Plant Peppers in Yakutat City and Borough, AK

Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska Zone 6b May

Your May planting checklist for Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska

We've pulled the most time-sensitive tasks for Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska this May and put them front and centre. Tackle them in order.

Avg. last frost May 20
Avg. first frost September 25
Soil temp (4") 62°F
Watering High
Pest pressure Low
Daylight 16.7 hrs
  1. Sow peppers where they'll grow

    These tolerate cool soil, so you're not gambling by sowing now.

June prep starts now
  • Transplants going out: peppers

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.

Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 20 and the first fall frost is September 25, giving you a growing season of approximately 128 days.

At an elevation of 246 feet, Yakutat City and Borough receives approximately 40.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 66°F, so choose short-season varieties of Peppers to ensure they mature before fall.

Yakutat City and Borough, AK (Zone 6b) Short season
128 days
Last Spring Frost May 20
128 growing days
First Fall Frost September 25
Share this guide:

Yakutat City and Borough Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.2-6.3

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 6 Transplant: May 29 🍅 Harvest: Jul 31 – Oct 9
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 11 Transplant: Jun 3 🍅 Harvest: Aug 5 – Oct 14
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 23 Transplant: Jun 15 🍅 Harvest: Aug 17 – Oct 26

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 Yakutat City and Borough

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.2–6.3) is more acidic than Peppers prefers (6.0–7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

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

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Peppers.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is excellent (5.1%) — Peppers will thrive.

How to Plant Peppers

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

Succession Planting Peppers

2
successive plantings in your 128-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jun 27 to harvest before frost.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.1″/week
Rainfall provides
1.3″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 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 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 1.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
May 4.8" 2" 2.8" 🚿 Regular watering
Jun 4.8" 2.7" 2.1" 💧 Light watering
Jul 4.8" 5.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.8" 6.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.8" 7.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Nov 3.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 2.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (May–Sep in Yakutat 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 — Yakutat City and Borough, AK

Peppers Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors March 11 Mar 11 – Mar 25
Transplant Outdoors June 3 Jun 3 – Jun 17
Direct Sow May 27 May 27 – Jun 17
Harvest August 5 Aug 5 – Oct 14

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1.1"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 6b

📆 Growing Season

128 days in Yakutat City and Borough

Growing Tips for Peppers in Yakutat City and Borough

Direct sow Peppers outdoors after May 20 in Yakutat 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.

Recommended Peppers Varieties for Yakutat City and Borough

Fast-maturing pepper varieties for shorter seasons

Ace (50d) Gypsy (58d) Early Jalapeño (60d)

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 Yakutat City and Borough, AK?

Yakutat City and Borough is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of May 20. Plan your Peppers planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Yakutat City and Borough, AK?

Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is May 20 and first fall frost is September 25.

🌱

Your Yakutat City and Borough Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Yakutat City and Borough (Zone 6b). 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 Yakutat 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.