Planting Guides

When to Plant Peppers in Anchorage: Complete Guide + Best Varieties for Zone 4b

Anchorage, Alaska

USDA Zone 4b

Last Frost: May 20

Last updated: October 30, 2025

Learn when to plant peppers in Anchorage with specific dates for Zone 4b. Compare 6 varieties, get a complete timeline, and discover which peppers grow best in Alaska's challenging climate.

TTom Erikson

October 30, 2025

Pepper seedlings ready for planting in Anchorage Alaska backyard garden — — Image © PlantReference.org 2026

Quick Answer

Start pepper seeds indoors March 22-29 in Anchorage for transplant after May 20. Focus on 60-70 day varieties like Shishito and Early Jalapeño.

TL;DR

Start pepper seeds indoors March 22-29 in Anchorage for transplanting after May 20. Focus on short-season varieties like Capsicum annuum 'Early Jalapeño' and Capsicum annuum 'Shishito' that mature in 60-70 days. Use black plastic mulch and row covers to maximize heat accumulation in Alaska's challenging Zone 4b climate.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I start pepper seeds indoors in Anchorage?

Start pepper seeds indoors March 22-29 in Anchorage, which is 8 weeks before the safe transplant date of May 27-June 3. Use a heat mat to maintain soil temperature at 80-85°F for proper germination. Without bottom heat, pepper seeds often rot in cool conditions rather than sprouting.

What pepper varieties grow best in Anchorage's Zone 4b climate?

The best pepper varieties for Anchorage are fast-maturing types that ripen in 60-75 days: Capsicum annuum 'Shishito', Capsicum annuum 'Sweet Banana', and Capsicum annuum 'Early Jalapeño'. Avoid standard bell peppers and hot varieties like habaneros that need 90+ days to mature—Anchorage's 118-day growing season is too short.

Can I grow peppers in the ground in Anchorage or should I use containers?

Container growing is strongly recommended for peppers in Anchorage. Use 5-7 gallon black plastic pots that absorb heat and warm the root zone faster than soil. You can also move containers into garages during cold snaps to extend the harvest. If growing in-ground, use raised beds with black plastic mulch to improve soil warming.

When is the last chance to transplant peppers outside in Anchorage?

The last safe date to transplant peppers in Anchorage is June 10th. Beyond this date, there aren't enough growing days before September frost for even the fastest varieties to mature. Soil must be consistently above 60°F before transplanting, which typically occurs between May 27-June 3.

How do I protect peppers from early frost in Anchorage?

Use floating row covers when temperatures drop below 50°F, especially during June and late August cold spells. For container-grown peppers, move them into garages or sheds when frost threatens. Watch weather forecasts carefully after September 1st and be prepared to cover plants or harvest green peppers if hard frost (below 28°F) is predicted.

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Tagged with

#planting-guide #peppers #anchorage #zone-4b #vegetable-gardening

Written By

Tom Erikson

Tom is a lifelong Alaskan who gardens in Anchorage, where the growing season is short but intense. He works for the state cooperative extension service and has spent years figuring out what works in a climate where the ground freezes deep, the growing season starts in late May, and you get 19 hours of daylight in June. Tom grows cold-hardy vegetables, maintains a collection of boreal-adapted perennials, and experiments with season extension using cold frames and row covers. He writes about the realities of northern gardening—the unique advantages (those long summer days produce remarkable growth) and the genuine limitations. Tom's tone is calm and practical, with the quiet humor of someone who's gardened through Alaskan winters for decades.