Alaska

Family: Fabaceae Legume

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Alaska to a garden.

Sweet, cool-season pods of Alaska open to reveal plump, bright-green peas with a crisp snap and a gently sugary finish.

The kernels hold their shape beautifully for shelling, delivering a tender yet satisfying bite that shines in classic market-style pea preparations. Grow Alaska for reliable performance and a harvest window that makes it easy to fill your garden with fresh, garden-fresh flavor at peak sweetness.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 55 DaysHabit: Upright

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Alaska Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Direct Sow	Jun 1st	Jul 26th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	May 25th	Jul 19th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 9th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 9th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Jul 13th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jul 9th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Jul 7th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jul 2nd – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jun 28th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jun 25th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jun 19th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jun 14th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	Jun 4th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	May 26th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	May 17th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	Apr 30th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Apr 5th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 25th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	55
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	Trellis
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	45
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	32
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Alaska’s kernels are built for speed: shell, cook briefly, and they stay bright-green and snappy instead of turning to mush. That clean, lightly sweet flavor loves butter-lemon and quick finishes—add dairy and aromatics late so the peas keep their bite.

Best Uses

shell-and-sauté with browned butter and a squeeze of lemon
quick-cook in light broth for a spoonable side
fold into spring risotto or creamy polenta at the very end
toss into a warm grain salad where they keep their bite

Flavor Profile

bright, gently sugary pea sweetness crisp snap when fresh tender, uniform kernels that hold their shape clean green/grassy finish

Kitchen Pairings

butter lemon mint garlic parmesan burrata

Frequently Asked Questions

Alaska crop has spots on leaves—what pest or disease is this likely and how do I treat it?

Small, circular gray-brown lesions that spread on leaves are often an early sign of fungal leaf spot. Remove and discard the worst leaves, then water at the base only and space plants to keep foliage dry. If it keeps spreading, spray a copper-based fungicide according to the label, repeating every 7–10 days during wet spells.

How often should I water Alaska during the main growing phase (about weeks 2–6)?

Keep the top 1 inch of soil evenly moist, which usually means watering about 1–2 times per week depending on your soil and rainfall. Water deeply until the soil is soaked to 4–6 inches, then let the top inch dry slightly before the next watering to prevent rot and stress. Mulch around plants helps stabilize moisture, but don’t mound mulch against stems.

How can I tell when Alaska is ready to harvest at 55 days?

Harvest when plants reach full size and the edible parts are firm and at their labeled maturity—avoid waiting for over-softening or shriveling. For most garden types labeled “Alaska,” check frequently in the final week: the best time to pick is when they feel crisp/tight and hold shape when gently pressed. If you can’t judge by size, use the 55-day mark from sowing as your deadline and confirm by firmness.